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Tunisia: Ongoing Prosecutions of Journalists Threaten What Remains of Media Freedom

The International Federation of Journalists (FIJ) condemned in a statement the prosecutions of journalists in Tunisia, expressing its deep concern over the escalating security and judicial targeting of media freedom

New Court Ruling Against Ayachi Zammel Raises Total Sentence to 35 Years in Prison

The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory points out that the escalation of rulings against Zammel reflects a trend that raises concerns about the use of the judiciary to settle political scores.

Lifting of Movement Restrictions on Abdellatif Mekki in the Daboussi Case

Other restrictions remain imposed on Mekki, as the investigating judge decided to maintain the travel ban against him and the ban on appearing in the media.

Prison Sentences Against Social Media Content Creators in Tunisia

The “Freedom for Tunisia” Observatory expresses its deep concern about these developments, and considers that the use of criminal laws to punish content creators poses a threat to freedom of expression and digital creativity.

Arrest of former Minister of Agriculture Samir Bettaieb

The Public Prosecution Office at the Economic and Financial Judicial Pole authorized the agents of the National Unit for the Investigation of Complex Financial Crimes at the Judicial Police Department in El-Gorjani, on Sunday, November 3, to detain former Minister of Agriculture Samir Bettaieb and his former chief of staff, as part of the investigations related to the Henchir Chaal case.

Prison Order Against Businessman Youssef Mimouni

The investigating judge at the Financial Judicial Pole issued a prison order against businessman Youssef Mimouni, on charges of financial corruption related to obtaining bank loans through illegal means, which led to financial damage to banking institutions.

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.