صحافة بلادي صحيفة إلكترونية مغاربية متجددة على مدار الساعة تعنى بشؤون المغرب الجزائر ليبيا موريتانيا تونس
Tunisia-The Tunisian authorities are facing a growing wave of international criticism after explicit accusations from the International Commission of Jurists and dozens of human rights organizations of launching what they described as a “systematic campaign of intimidation and revenge” against lawyers, judges, and human rights defenders, in a development that reflects the extent of the growing concerns about the reality of freedoms and the independence of the judiciary in the country.
In a joint statement signed by about 40 international human rights organizations, the International Commission of Jurists called on the Tunisian authorities to put an end to what it considered arbitrary prosecutions and restrictive practices targeting independent legal and human rights voices, calling for the immediate release of lawyers and human rights defenders detained because of their activities related to defending rights and freedoms.
The human rights warning was not limited to the conditions of detainees, but rather extended to what the organizations described as increasing attempts to weaken the independence of the judiciary by targeting prominent judges and activists in judicial professional bodies. The statement referred to the case of Judge Anas Hamidi as an example of what the organizations consider to be growing pressure on voices defending the independence of the judiciary.
The signatory organizations also warned of the repercussions of interference in the work of bar associations and independent associations, considering that the continuation of these practices threatens the institutional balance and undermines the basic guarantees of the rule of law, especially in light of the increasing complaints related to freedom of expression, legal and journalistic work.
The statement stressed that lawyers must be able to exercise their professional duties with complete freedom and without fear of prosecution or punishment for the cases they handle, including the files of political opponents or victims of human rights violations, calling for an end to measures targeting journalists, activists, and independent associations.
These increasing international warnings place Tunisia before a sensitive test regarding the extent of its commitment to international human rights standards and the independence of the judiciary, at a time when human rights organizations are talking about a growing restriction of civil space, while calls are increasing to provide real guarantees that protect the judiciary, the legal profession, and human rights work from any pressure or interference.
Observers believe that the issuance of this collective position by dozens of international organizations does not represent just a passing criticism, but rather a strong warning message regarding the legal and judicial path in Tunisia, and the repercussions it may have on the country’s image and its international obligations in the field of the rule of law and basic freedoms.
Source: “My press”
