The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, denounced on Tuesday "
the
worsening of repression" in Tunisia, after several arrests this weekend of political activists, former magistrates and a influential businessman.
During a press briefing in Geneva, his spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence, indicated that Volker Türk expressed "
his concern at the worsening of the repression against those who are perceived as political opponents and civil society in Tunisia , including through measures taken by the authorities that continue to undermine the independence of the judiciary
”.
“
Since Saturday, at least nine people, including former officials, have reportedly been arrested and some detained on security-related or corruption charges
,” he said.
"Nicket"
Tunisian security services launched a raid this weekend during which political activists, former magistrates and an influential businessman were arrested.
In addition, a leader of the Tunisian Islamo-conservative Ennahdha party and the director of a private radio station were arrested Monday evening, according to the political formation and the media.
Read alsoIn Tunisia, a weekend of serial arrests
“
The United Nations Human Rights Office has also observed that the Attorney General has increasingly initiated criminal proceedings against suspected opponents, accusing them of +conspiracy against state security, offense to the head of state or violation of the decree-law to combat cybercrime
,” underlined Jeremy Laurence.
“
We are further concerned that some of those detained for criticizing the government have been tried in military courts.
We call on the authorities to immediately cease the practice of trying civilians before military tribunals
,” he continued.
Attack on the independence of the judiciary
OHCHR calls on the Tunisian authorities to uphold due process and fair trial standards and to "
immediately release
" all those arbitrarily detained, including anyone detained in connection with the exercise of their freedom of opinion or expression.
The UN also denounced the “
series of measures
” taken since July 2021 by the Tunisian authorities “
which have undermined the independence of justice, in particular the dissolution of the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the dismissal without notice of 57 judges.
".
Read alsoIn Tunisia, dispassionate legislative elections
Since a coup by President Kais Saied who assumed full powers in July 2021, several politicians have been the subject of legal proceedings denounced by the opposition as settling political scores.
The opposition accuses Kais Saied of establishing an authoritarian regime repressing freedoms and threatening democracy in Tunisia, where the first revolt of the Arab Spring overthrew the dictatorship of Ben Ali in 2011.
SEE
ALSO
- "It's a Parliament without power!": In Tunisia, voters vote for the legislative elections
