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Abir Moussi Threatens to Go On Hunger Strike to Protest Her Forced Detention and Procedural Violations

The defense team for the leader of the Free Destourian Party, Abir Moussi, confirmed that she has threatened to go on an open hunger strike in protest of the “attacks on her basic rights” and her ongoing forced detention since October 3, 2023. In a distress call addressed to national and international public opinion, Moussi said that she had gone from being a “kidnapped citizen deprived of her freedom” to a “citizen buried without permission for burial,” referring to her current situation in prison.

Moussi faces politically motivated cases, including incitement to change the state structure based on political statements and her party activity, in addition to the charge of disturbing the public order, which is usually used in political contexts, as well as spreading fake news using information systems under Decree 54, which has drawn widespread human rights criticism for its exploitation to target the opposition and journalists.

Statement by the Free Destourian Party:

The Free Destourian Party issued a statement on January 16, 2025, affirming its full support for Moussi, demanding her immediate release. The statement indicated that decision-makers bear legal and political responsibility for any harm that may befall her. The party also announced the organization of a national march on January 18, 2025, starting from Passage Square and reaching the Ministry of Women, to defend the rights of Tunisians to freedom, development and a decent life.

Arbitrary detention and procedural violations:

For more than a year, the authorities have been detaining Abir Moussi without a fair trial, in the absence of clear legal guarantees that justify her continued detention. Procedural violations indicate:

  • Lack of legal guarantees: Moussi has been detained for more than a year without a fair trial or clear rulings on her legal status.
  • Exploitation of the judiciary: Exploitation of lengthy and vague procedures to detain her without a clear legal basis, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international standards for a fair trial.
  • Political exploitation of the judiciary: The continued detention of Moussi without clear evidence of guilt indicates the exploitation of the judiciary to settle political scores.

The Observatory’s demands:

The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory calls on the Tunisian authorities to:

  1. Immediately release Abir Moussi in the absence of clear evidence of guilt.
  2. Ensure a fair trial in accordance with the text of the Tunisian constitution and international standards.
  3. End the exploitation of the judiciary to settle political scores.

It also calls on the international community to monitor the human rights situation in Tunisia to ensure the protection of the rights of political opponents and respect for fundamental freedoms.

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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.