National Salvation Front Statement: Stop persecution of the opposition
Tunis, 15 May 2023
The Criminal Division for Terrorism Cases of the Tunis Court of First Instance issued a one-year prison sentence and a fine of one thousand dinars against Mr. Rached Ghannouchi, Speaker of the elected Assembly of Representatives of the People and Head of the Ennahdha Party, because of a eulogy he delivered in the city of Gabes, during which he praised the virtues of the deceased, saying… that he spent his life resisting tyranny. A member of the security unions considered that the security forces are what is meant by the "tyrant". It is noteworthy that Sheikh Rached Ghannouchi had previously appeared before the investigating judge to answer for this malicious accusation, but he later refused to appear again before the criminal division, considering that the case was fabricated and has no basis in reality and law.
Imprisonment of one of the most prominent political figures due to statements whose interpretation is contrary to their appearance and meaning proves, on the one hand, that the authority has not been able to prove any material criminal acts against the head of the Ennahdha party and all the detained politicians, and, on the other hand, provides further evidence that arbitrariness has replaced the law in public life, and that no critic, regardless of their position or affiliation, is safe from having their freedom confiscated and being thrown into prison.
The verdict issued today is in addition to detaining more than twenty political figures in prison for the third month in a row without evidence or justification other than baseless accusations and misuse of power and the law.
In the context of these unfair prosecutions comes the arrest this week of the MP Sahbi Atig and political activist Youssef Al-Nouri, who are both waging an open-ended hunger strike from the date of their arrest until their release and cessation of the injustice against them.
This policy of repression is a direct result of the coup against the constitution and monopoly of absolute rule, and it is the authorities’ only refuge in the face of their failure to manage economic affairs and inability to address the suffocating financial and social crisis the country is going through.
The policy of repression does not differentiate between opponents and critics, whether they are politicians, trade unionists, media professionals, judges, lawyers or bloggers, and it is a policy that pushes the country to instability and the danger of collapse. It is the duty of political and civic forces to unite their stance through an inclusive national dialogue in order to elaborate a way out of the crisis and towards re-establishing the rule of law and renewing constitutional institutions through early presidential and legislative elections.
Tunis, May 15, 2023
On behalf of the National Salvation Front
Ahmed Nejib Chebbi