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Former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

On Friday, November 29, 2024, the Criminal Chamber specializing in examining financial corruption cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance issued a three-year prison sentence against former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher in a case related to suspicions of financial and administrative corruption. The court also issued a two-year prison sentence against a civil defense official who was attached to the Ministry of Environment. The case relates to a public contract concluded by the Ministry of Environment during Riadh Mouakher’s tenure to supply the ministry’s departments with administrative vehicles.

“Freedom for Tunisia” Observatory Comment

The “Freedom for Tunisia” Observatory believes that this case falls within the context of the escalation of judicial prosecutions against prominent political figures in Tunisia. While the Observatory stresses the importance of holding those responsible for corruption cases accountable, it expresses its concern about the transparency of judicial procedures and their commitment to fair trial guarantees.

The Observatory stresses the necessity of achieving justice away from any political exploitation, while adhering to the principles of integrity and transparency, and ensuring the rights of all parties to a fair and speedy trial.

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Ayachi Zammel’s Release Denied, Case Postponed by Court of Appeal

On Saturday, November 30, 2024, the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Tunis rejected the request to release former presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel and his campaign member and Azmoun Movement treasurer, Suwar Al-Barqawi. The court also decided to postpone the case against them to a later date.

Six-Month Prison Sentence for Lotfi Mraihi for Spreading False News

The 14th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Tunis ruled on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, to sentence the leader of the Popular Republican Union party, Lotfi Mraihi, to six months in prison, on charges of “using information and communication systems to publish and promote false news.”

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Call to Action

Website petition: Freedom for prisoners of conscience and activists in Tunisia!

Tunisia is no longer the Arab exception that inspired the world in 2011 with a heroic revolution that overthrew the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled for nearly 23 years after seizing power on November 7, 1987, in a coup against Habib Bourguiba.

In a similar and perhaps more dangerous move, on the night of July 25, 2021, Tunisian President Kais Saied carried out a “constitutional coup” in accordance with his personal interpretation of Article 80 of the 2014 Revolutionary Constitution, announcing that he had taken a set of exceptional measures due to the “imminent danger” that threatens Tunisia without providing any details or reasons.

In accordance with these measures, Saied dismissed the government and the prime minister Hichem Mechichi who was present at the National Security Council that night at the Carthage Palace, and claimed that he had contacted the Speaker of Parliament Rached Ghannouchi (leader of the Ennahdha party) to consult with him in accordance with what is stipulated by the constitution, a claim which Ghannouchi denied since the call was general and did not include anything about exceptional measures or any consultation on the matter. The president suspended Parliament and later dissolved it in March 2022.

Not only did Saied seek to bypass his powers and the articles of the Constitution, which he swore to protect before the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, but he went on to dismiss and change the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council after redefining the judiciary it as a “function” rather than an independent authority. He further replaced members of the Supreme Electoral Commission in preparation for the referendum he held in order to vote on a constitution that he wrote himself after dismissing the proposals of the drafting committee he had himself appointed. Then legislative elections were held over two rounds, in which the participation rate did not exceed 8% of the total number of voters, with the Election Commission later announcing that it had reached 11%, which is the lowest participation rate in Tunisia and globally.

On February 11, President Saied’s regime launched a campaign of protests that has not stopped since, against political leaders, media figures, journalists, judges and senior officials and civil servants, for charges of “conspiring against the security of the state and committing an offensive act against the President of the Republic,” in addition to other charges that were referred to the military prosecution, leading one to wonder about the implication of the Tunisian army in the actions taken by Saied.

The arbitrary arrests were marred by several procedural violations amid criticism from prominent international organizations and observatories in the field of human rights. The standards of litigation and detention period and conditions were not respected. Prosecution and harassment sometimes extended to the detainees’ families, and no evidence, and in many cases, no charges against them were presented.

Moreover trade unions and political parties continue to be subjected to constant harassment and restrictions. Saied continues to target all “intermediary bodies” accusing them of “collaboration” or “treason”. Civil society associations have also been subjected to prosecution, arbitrary arrests and deprivation from representation, in a context of of increasing violence in society due to the authorities’ adoption of racist and discriminatory speeches and rhetoric inciting infighting and violating human dignity.

In light of the above, we, the undersigned, demand the following:

Call for the immediate release of all political detainees, immediately and unconditionally. We also urge the Tunisian authorities to recognize the national and the international human rights treaties they have ratified.
Call on the Tunisian authorities to stop dismantling the nascent democracy and put an end to unfair trials and prosecutions against political opponents of the regime and anyone who criticises it.
Call on all activists and observers to join the national movement for restoring democracy and ending authoritarian rule that has taken Tunisia back to despotism, injustice, and violations of rights and freedoms.