Tunisia is set to begin a trial involving prominent opposition figures charged with plotting against state security, deemed by critics as politically motivated. Around 40 defendants, including politicians and activists, were arrested in early 2023 after President Kais Saied labeled them “terrorists.” Concerns about fair trial procedures and rights violations persist, drawing attention from international organizations.
A trial for several prominent Tunisian opposition figures accused of conspiring against state security is set to commence on Tuesday. Critics and human rights organizations have condemned the proceedings as politically motivated and unjust. Approximately 40 defendants, including politicians, lawyers, and media professionals, have been implicated, many of whom had openly criticized President Kais Saied. Following a series of arrests in February 2023, Saied labeled them as “terrorists.”
The charges levied against the group include “plotting against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group,” which could result in severe penalties. Notable among the accused are opposition politician Jawhar Ben Mbarek, former Ennahdha party figure Abdelhamid Jelassi, and Issam Chebbi, a co-founder of the National Salvation Front.
President Saied was elected in 2019 after Tunisia showed signs of democratic progress. However, his 2021 power consolidation has raised alarms over declining civil liberties. The case includes activists Khayam Turki, Chaima Issa, and former parliament member Bochra Belhaj Hmida, with some accused individuals suspected of engaging with foreign diplomats.
In a letter from his detention, Ben Mbarek criticized the trial as a targeted effort to eliminate dissent and denounced what he termed “judicial harassment”. His defense team argues the charges are grounded in fabricated evidence and testimony, insisting on a transparent trial with the defendants present.
Relatives of the detainees assert that the trial’s remote format deprives defendants of due process, while critics such as Ahmed Nejib Chebbi stress the necessity for a public trial. Former Ennahdha official Riadh Chaibi described the proceedings as lacking justification, stating that evidence and witness identities remain undisclosed.
Ben Mbarek’s father expressed regret over his past support for Saied, reflecting on his son’s struggle to secure Saied’s election. The situation remains precarious, with additional critics of Saied subjected to various legal challenges. The United Nations has called for an end to arbitrary detentions of political activists, while Tunisia’s Foreign Ministry rejected these claims as misrepresentations of the legal context of the cases.
The upcoming trial of prominent Tunisian opposition figures reflects the ongoing tensions between government authority and dissent. With allegations of politically motivated charges and improper judicial procedures, the situation poses serious implications for the future of political freedoms in Tunisia. The involvement of international bodies like the United Nations indicates a broader concern regarding human rights in the country. The trial’s fairness and transparency will be crucial in assessing Tunisia’s commitment to democratic ideals following its post-Arab Spring transition.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
