Numerous Tunisian opposition figures face trial on national security charges, accused of terrorism and plotting against the state. President Kais Saied’s crackdown on dissent has raised concerns of political motivations behind the charges. Critics, including prominent politicians and activists, argue that these proceedings reflect an attack on democracy and freedoms in Tunisia.
On Tuesday, numerous high-profile opposition figures in Tunisia will stand trial for national security charges, accused of “belonging to a terrorist group” and “plotting against the state’s security.” This follows a significant crackdown by President Kais Saied on political adversaries and dissenting voices, raising concerns over political motivations behind the charges.
The trial involves approximately 40 defendants, including former diplomats, politicians, lawyers, and media personalities, many of whom have openly criticized President Saied. The allegations they face could result in severe penalties, including capital punishment, if convicted.
President Saied, who was elected in 2019, has been criticized for undermining democracy following his 2021 power consolidation. He was re-elected in 2024 despite low voter turnout and amidst the imprisonment of major opposition figures, with others barred from electoral participation.
Notable defendants include Jawhar Ben Mbarek, Abdelhamid Jelassi, and Issam Chebbi, all staunch critics of the president. In a missive from prison, Ben Mbarek described the trial as “judicial harassment” aimed at silencing dissent, branding the accusations as unfounded.
Activists and a former member of parliament, Bochra Belhaj Hmida, alongside several others, also face charges in this contentious case. Some defendants have been imprisoned since a series of arrests in February 2023, while others remain free or have fled the country to avoid prosecution.
During a recent public appearance, President Saied asserted that he does not intervene in judicial affairs, responding to a citizen’s plea regarding her imprisoned sons. This was captured in a video shared on the presidency’s official Facebook page. Many critics of Saied have been charged under laws against “false news” in separate cases.
In a notable recent verdict, Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, received a 22-year prison sentence for his alleged threats to state security. The UN has urged the Tunisian government to cease the ongoing patterns of arrest and detention targeting human rights advocates and political adversaries, a call dismissed by the Tunisian foreign ministry as inaccurate.
In summary, the trial of opposition figures in Tunisia reflects the government’s continuing crackdown on dissent and raises serious questions regarding the state of democracy and human rights under President Saied.
The trial of numerous Tunisian opposition figures highlights ongoing political repression and allegations of politically motivated charges. The government’s actions are viewed by many observers as an effort to stifle dissent and diminish democratic freedoms established after the Arab Spring. Calls for the cessation of arbitrary detentions and the safeguarding of human rights persist amidst this tumultuous political atmosphere.
Original Source: www.france24.com
