Skip links

Noureddine Bhiri’s Trial Postponed Due to Health Condition

The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Tunis ruled, on Monday, January 7, 2025, to postpone the trial of Ennahdha Party leader Noureddine Bhiri to a later date, after he was unable to attend the session due to a health problem that required his transfer to the hospital. This decision is part of the case filed against him for the charges of “planning an attack intended to change the state’s structure and inciting citizens to attack each other,” based on a post attributed to him.

The Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance in Tunis had issued an initial ten-year prison sentence against Bhiri, for his participation in a march organized by the “Salvation Front” in the Menzah region. Bhiri’s defense team appealed this ruling, demanding a review of the case’s merits.

General Context of the Case

The case of Bhiri is known as the “case of the missing blog post”, as the defense team confirmed the absence of conclusive evidence proving its attribution to him, considering that the accusations are political in nature in light of the tension between the government and the opposition.

Health Condition and Postponement of the Trial

Bhiri was supposed to appear before the Court of Appeal to appeal the initial ruling, but his absence from the session was due to his critical health condition, as he was receiving treatment in the hospital after suffering a health problem.

Reactions and Calls to Ensure Fair Trial Rights

The case raises wide controversy in human rights and political circles, as observers are calling for respecting Bhiri’s right to a fair trial and ensuring that he receives the necessary medical care, in line with international human rights standards.

Comment by The “Freedom for Tunisia” Observatory

The “Freedom for Tunisia” Observatory believes that the case of Noureddine Bhiri highlights ongoing problems related to fair trial guarantees and respect for the fundamental rights of individuals. The Observatory expresses its concern about his continued detention despite his health condition, which constitutes a violation of his right to adequate medical care.

Observatory’s Call

  1. The Observatory calls for Bhiri to be granted his right to health care without delay, in line with Tunisia’s international obligations.
  2. It calls for the provision of fair trial conditions, free from any political or selective pressures in judicial prosecution.
  3. It stresses the need to review the circumstances of the case, in a way that ensures respect for human rights and enhances public confidence in the independence of the judiciary.

The postponement of Bhiri’s trial, in light of his current health condition, highlights the need to strengthen legal and humanitarian guarantees in dealing with cases of a political nature.

Share

More Posts

عربية
Français
Icon-x Facebook Instagram Tiktok Youtube

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.