The United States criticized Thursday (October 7)
"attacks on freedom of the press and expression"
by the Tunisian authorities and urged Tunis to return to a
"transparent democratic process"
more than two months after the coup by President Kais Saied.
Tunisian police seized on Wednesday the equipment of a private television station close to the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party on the grounds of
"illegal broadcasting"
of the channel, after the arrest on Sunday of a journalist who had sharply criticized Kais Saied.
Read alsoWhere is Tunisia heading after the president's coup?
"We are concerned and disappointed with recent reports from Tunisia about attacks on press and expression freedoms
,
"
State Department spokesman Ned Price said. He called on the Tunisian government to
"keep its commitment to respect human rights as set out in the Tunisian Constitution" as
well as in a decree issued in September by Kais Saied.
"We also urge the Tunisian president and the new prime minister to respond to the call of the Tunisian people for a clear roadmap for a return to a transparent democratic process involving civil society and plural political voices"
, added Ned Price.
Kais Saied suspended the work of Parliament at the end of July for 30 days and sacked Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, claiming to want to
“save”
the country, plagued by months of political blockages and a new deadly peak of Covid-19.
The Head of State then formalized his full powers through
“exceptional measures”
which prolong the suspension of Parliament.
They also allow him to legislate by decree, to chair the council of ministers and to modify the laws of the country.
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A senior American official had traveled to Tunisia in mid-August to meet Kais Saied, who had assured to meet
"the expectations of the people"
and promised that there was
"no need to worry about freedom, justice and democracy ”
.