Arrests in Tunisia expand to include two former ministers and a radio director
Tunisian security forces arrested Ennahda leader Noureddine Bhiri, former minister Lazhar Akremi, and director general of the local private radio station Mosaique Noureddine Boutar, although the reason for the arrests was not immediately clear.
He confirmed through the statements of some of the detainees’ lawyers in recent days that the arrests are related to the suspicion of conspiracy against state security, in a case that seems to be linked, while it is not yet clear whether the latest arrests have anything to do with the same case.
Lawyer Samir Dilou said police raided the home of Bhiri, a former justice minister and fierce critic of President Kais Saied, and arrested him.
Authorities also raided the home of Radio Mosaique’s director general, whose station broadcasts harsh criticism of Said repeatedly. He was arrested after a search of his home, according to his lawyer Delilah Ben Mubarak.
Delilah Ben Mubarak stressed that the case in which her representative was heard was independent from other cases related to the recent suspension, pointing out that the questions addressed to her representative are related to the partners of the radio station and its property, in addition to questions about the editorial line.
On Monday, police also arrested a lawyer and former minister, Lazhar Akremi, who has been vigorously protesting against Saied, opposition figures and lawyers said.
His lawyer, Ridha Belhaj, revealed that he is currently detained in the Bouchoucha detention center within the meaning of the anti-terrorism law, but they have not yet been officially informed of the charge against him.
Belhaj denied rumors that he was being held at Akremi’s house, stressing that his client was arrested for radio statements criticizing the president.
Earlier, Akermi said he was chased down the street at night by police. Akermi was a close associate of the late Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi and held a cabinet post.
Since Saturday, police have arrested several figures who expressed opposition to Said or sought to mobilize protests against him. Lawyers said Saturday and Sunday’s arrests have included some for allegedly conspiring against internal state security.
Among them were Kamel Eltaïef, an influential businessman with close ties to the political scene, Khayam Turki, a former finance minister, Abdelhamid Jelassi, a former Ennahdha leader, and two judges, a former diplomat, and a former army officer.
Although the arrest of a number of opposition politicians is related to state security issues according to their lawyers or some sources, but the arrest of judges Al-Bashir Akremi and Al-Tayeb Rashid has different reasons and has nothing to do with the state security files.
In a statement, Ennahdha denounced “the systematic abduction and abuse of opponents by Kais Saied’s authority,” calling for unity among “the living forces that are within the goal of indiscriminate targeting.”
Although some politicians have been arrested since Saied took over extensive powers, there has never been a major crackdown like these days.
He was detained for two months on charges of helping Islamist militants travel to Syria, charges he and Ennahdha deny and which they say are political charges targeting Said’s opponents.
“The police broke into Noureddine Bhiri’s house, assaulted his wife and then arrested him,” lawyer Dilou said on Monday.
The Tunisian judiciary had decided to put prominent Ennahdha leader and former Interior Minister Ali Larayedh in prison on charges of involvement in the travel document to the hotbeds of tension.
While state television has largely stopped broadcasting interviews with the president’s critics, other media, including Mosaique FM, have continued to give the floor to Saied’s opponents and broadcast programs sharply critical of his political and economic plans.
“The police searched Boutar’s house and then arrested him,” Delilah Ben Mubarak said as she stood in front of Bawtar’s house.. I’m here in front of the house.. They found nothing to arrest him but they arrested him,” he said.
