Referral of 3 prominent opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied to the judiciary
Three prominent opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied said that they had been notified of an investigation by the Free Destourian Party, which accused FIS leaders of belonging to a suspicious organization that included elements involved in terrorism.
A few days ago, Saied said that it was necessary to take measures against those who attack “state symbols”, considering this an attack on state security.
The three main opposition figures are Ahmed Najib Chebbi, Ridha Belhaj and Ayachi Hammami.
Chebbi is the leader of the Salvation Front, the political front for the Islamic Ennahdha Movement, which called for Kais Saied to resign and organize early presidential elections after the low turnout in the elections that took place last December 17th..
The justice ministry was not immediately available for comment.
“Ahmed Najib Chebbi and Ridha Belhaj were referred for investigation based on a lawsuit filed by the head of the Free Constitutional Party, Abir Moussi, against leaders of the so-called Salvation Front for engaging in illegal, suspicious organization that includes elements involved in terrorism,” said journalist Riyadh Jarad, who supports Said.
Last Thursday, Moussi said that the Salvation Front is a “suspicious front” and a cover for terrorism, adding in a statement to FM radio during a protest for her party in front of the Arab League that she submitted a partial complaint against Ahmed Najib Chebbi, Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Ridha Belhaj, and Moncef Marzouki.
The Free Destourian Party said in a statement that the party’s defense committee filed criminal complaints against a number of National Salvation leaders, as well as former President Moncef Marzouki.
The party said complaints were filed against Ahmed Najib Chebbi, Ridha Belhaj, Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Chaima Issa and Moncef Marzouki, and all those who were to be investigated for “joining an organization that includes in its ranks persons and parties linked to terrorist crimes, placing a meeting place under that organization, and collecting donations for its benefit, in accordance with the Basic Law on Combating Terrorism and Preventing Money Laundering”.
Belhaj was surprised by their prompt call for an investigation, seeing it as co-ordinated with Kais Saied’s authority to crack down on the front.
Hammami, a lawyer and activist, said the judiciary had opened an investigation against him on charges of “spreading rumors and committing a savage act against the president” at the request of the justice minister.
Hammami accused authorities last week of fabricating terrorism cases against judges dismissed by the president last year.
Chebbi said he will not respond to any lawsuit because the case is politically motivated.
“It is a play and a farce to which I cannot be a part,” he told Reuters.
The Salvation Front is made up of the Islamist Ennahdha Movement, Nabil Karoui’s Heart of Tunisia Party, the Karama Coalition, Moncef Marzouki’s Hirak Tounes al-Irada, and Ahmed Najib Chebbi’s Amal Party.
Through this front, Ennahdha is trying to return to power, circumventing the path of 25 July 2021, which removed a parliament it had controlled.
The president took control of the executive in July 2021, dissolved parliament last year and now faces growing opposition to imposing a dictatorship and consolidating one-man rule, which the president denies.
The powerful Tunisian General Labor Union criticized the president, saying he rejected the approach of individual rule and would not remain silent.
