Tunisia is set to initiate trials against around 40 opposition figures accused of conspiring against state security. Critics label the case politically motivated, stemming from recent arrests after President Kais Saied termed them “terrorists.” Key defendants include notable politicians and activists who have opposed the administration’s actions since Saied’s power consolidation. The trials are to be held remotely, raising further concerns about fair judicial processes.
Tunisia is set to commence trials against numerous prominent opposition figures, accused of conspiring against state security. Critics, including human rights organizations, claim the case is politically motivated and unjust. Approximately 40 defendants have been implicated, which includes various former diplomats, politicians, and media personalities, some of whom have openly criticized President Kais Saied. The defendants were detained following a wave of arrests in February 2023 after being labeled as “terrorists” by Saied.
The charges faced by the defendants include “plotting against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group,” with possible severe penalties. Among those charged are politician Jawhar Ben Mbarek, ex-Ennahdha party leader Abdelhamid Jelassi, and Issam Chebbi, a founder of the opposition National Salvation Front (FSN) coalition. All three individuals have been vocal in their criticism of President Saied.
President Kais Saied came to power in 2019, establishing Tunisia as the sole democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring. However, following a significant power shift in 2021, rights groups have raised alarms about a decline in personal freedoms under his administration. The cases also include activists and public figures living abroad, such as Kamel Eltaief and Bochra Belhaj Hmida, with the prominent French intellectual Bernard-Henri Levy also named among the accused.
In a public correspondence from detention, Ben Mbarek condemned the trial as a deliberate effort to suppress dissent and labeled it as “judicial harassment.” As a founding member of the FSN, he emphasizes that the process aims to systematically eliminate opposing voices. His sister, lawyer Dalila Msaddek, asserts that the charges are founded on false testimonies.
The defense committee has indicated that judicial authorities have opted to conduct the trial remotely and without the presence of detainees. Relatives of the accused along with rights groups denounce this procedure as unjust, insisting that it contravenes the principles of a fair trial. “It is one of the conditions for a fair trial,” stated Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, FSN leader and co-defendant in the case.
Former Ennahdha official Riadh Chaibi characterized the proceedings as lacking logical foundation, noting the secrecy surrounding the witnesses and evidence. This raises significant concerns regarding transparency and due process in the ongoing trials. Critics call attention to the implications of such a trial on the future of political dissent in Tunisia.
The impending trials against key opposition figures in Tunisia have raised serious concerns about their fairness and motivation. Detractors, including rights groups and family members of the accused, emphasize that the proceedings are politically charged and potentially detrimental to the country’s democratic aspirations. With charges rooted in allegations of threats to state security, the situation encapsulates broader issues regarding freedom of expression under President Kais Saied’s regime.
Original Source: www.dailysabah.com
