The trial of several prominent Tunisian opposition figures accused of national security offenses is set to begin, with rights organizations denouncing it as politically motivated. The defendants include critics of President Kais Saied, facing serious allegations that could lead to severe penalties. Calls from the United Nations highlight concerns about human rights in Tunisia amid ongoing suppression of dissent.
TUNIS: A trial involving several notable Tunisian opposition figures, accused of national security offenses, is scheduled to commence on Tuesday. Rights groups have condemned the trial as politically motivated and an attempt to silence dissent. Among the approximately 40 high-profile defendants are former politicians, diplomats, and media figures, including outspoken critics of President Kais Saied.
The charges levied against these defendants include accusations of “plotting against the state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group,” which risk severe penalties, including capital punishment. Individuals such as Jawhar Ben Mbarek, Abdelhamid Jelassi, and Issam Chebbi, all vocal adversaries of President Saied, are among those facing trial. In correspondence from prison, Ben Mbarek described the trial as “judicial harassment” intended to eliminate critical voices, asserting that the allegations are unfounded.
Other notable figures charged include activists Khayam Turki and Chaima Issa, businessman Kamel Eltaief, and Bochra BelHajj Hmida, a human rights activist now residing in France. Some defendants have been in custody since a series of arrests in February 2023 when President Saied labeled them as “terrorists.” Others are free on bail, with several having sought asylum abroad, according to information from the defense committee.
On a recent stroll through Tunis, President Saied addressed a woman requesting intervention for her imprisoned sons, clarifying that he does not interfere in judicial processes. This comment was captured in a video shared on the presidency’s official Facebook page. Various critics of Saied face charges in different cases, including those associated with a law targeting “false news.”
In a separate but related case, Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for plotting against state security, adding to the rising tensions. The United Nations called on Tunisian authorities last month to cease the ongoing pattern of arrests and detentions impacting a range of human rights defenders and political figures. However, Tunisia’s foreign ministry expressed astonishment at the UN’s statements, labeling them as inaccurate.
The upcoming trial of Tunisian opposition figures raises significant concerns over judicial independence and political repression under President Kais Saied. Various rights organizations maintain that the motives behind the prosecutions are politically charged, aiming to curtail dissenting voices. The international community, including the United Nations, has urged an end to the pattern of arbitrary detentions, highlighting the deteriorating state of human rights in Tunisia.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
