Tunisian NGO slams ‘instrumentalization’ of justice against political opponents
The Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH) has launched a fervent plea, urging the authorities to abandon legal proceedings against two lawyers who have been defending political detainees in Tunisia. In a strongly-worded statement disseminated through various media outlets, LTDH accused the government of “instrumentalizing the justice system to eliminate political adversaries.”
The call comes in the wake of a recent decision by the Tunis Court of Appeals to grant permission, as of September 28th, for the Prosecutor of the Republic at the First Instance Court of Tunis, to refer two lawyers, Islem Hamza and Dalila Msaddek, for further investigation. This move was prompted by statements made by the lawyers concerning the “conspiracy against state security” case.
LTDH contends that these charges represent “yet another link in the chain of repeated violations of the right to legal defense in this ongoing case, as well as a blatant attempt to target the legal profession as a whole.”
The investigative judge at the anti-terrorism judicial unit had previously issued a decision prohibiting any media coverage of cases related to the “conspiracy against state security.” The reason cited for this action was to “preserve the orderly progress of the investigation and protect the personal data of the individuals under scrutiny.”
The situation in Tunisia took a dramatic turn earlier this year, as the country witnessed a series of high-profile arrests that included politicians, opposition figures, civil society activists, media executives, and union leaders. These arrests triggered both local and international outrage and condemnation.
The individuals detained were primarily associated with the National Salvation Front and its leading faction, the Ennahdha movement. They face charges, among other things, of involvement in what has been referred to as the “conspiracy against state security” case.
