Freedom for Frifta, freedom for all trans women imprisoned in men's prisons

The grave human rights violations faced by transgender women in Tunisia are a stain on the Tunisian state's image. Their continued detention in men's prisons, their exposure to institutional and societal violence, and the continued criminalization of their gender identity through unjust laws such as Articles 230, 226, and 226 bis, highlight the extent of the systematic discrimination practiced against them.

The case of transgender activist Frifta is living testimony to the magnitude of the tragedy experienced by transgender women in Tunisia. Frifta was not treated as a human being deserving of dignity and basic rights like any other Tunisian citizen. Instead, she became a victim of political and social revenge and vindictiveness. She was subjected to torture and brutal assaults, and was denied her most basic rights, even to a fair trial.

In this context, the Transgender Coalition affirms its full commitment to continuing the struggle for the rights of transgender women, regardless of the challenges.

The Trans unity Coalition will not stand idly by. We will work to expose all forms of violations, discrimination, and persecution, and we will tirelessly strive by all means to put an end to these transgressions and inhuman and torturous practices.

We call on the Tunisian authorities, especially after their pledge to the international community and before the United Nations Human Rights Council, to take the necessary measures to immediately release all transgender women detained in men's prisons and to ensure their protection from violence and discrimination. We also call for the repeal of laws criminalizing gender identities and sexual orientations, and for justice to be served for Frifta and all transgender women who suffer injustice and all forms of abuse inside men's prisons and who are subject to exclusion both inside and outside prisons.

Our struggle will not end, and our struggles will not cease until justice is achieved. The voices of trans women will not be erased from memory or history simply by imprisoning them. Their voices will not be stolen, suppressed, or erased from societal presence.

Freedom for Frifta, and freedom for all trans women imprisoned in men's prisons.