Moussi goes on hunger strike to pressure presidential election issue
The defense team of the president of the Free Destourian Party claims that poor treatment in prison is among the reasons for the hunger strike.
The president of the Free Destourian Party, Abir Moussi, has decided to go on a hunger strike due to her being barred from running in the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for October 6, as well as due to poor treatment in prison. Observers believe that this move is intended to embarrass the authorities before the international public opinion and to pressure the government and the Independent High Authority for Elections.
Ali Tayachi, a member of Moussi‘s defense team, stated, “My client has decided to go on a hunger strike in protest against what she considers to be the confiscation of her right as a Tunisian citizen to run in the upcoming presidential elections, and the prison’s disregard for her health condition which requires special measures.”
On Monday, the primary court of Tunis decided to delay the examination of a case brought by the electoral body against the party president to a later date.
The lawyer described Moussi‘s health condition by saying, “Her health condition is exhausted and fatigued, which is why the defense requested the court to examine her condition and take the necessary medical measures.”
Last week, the summer criminal chamber of the primary court of Tunis issued an arrest warrant against Moussi based on Article 24 of Decree No. 54.
The decision was made following her interrogation concerning her political statements during a protest organized by the party in January 2023, where she expressed her rejection of the transgressions that marred the legislative election process.
Article 24 states that “anyone who intentionally uses information and communication networks and systems to produce, promote, publish, send, or prepare false news, data, rumors, or fabricated or forged documents falsely attributed to others with the intent of harming the rights of others or harming public security or national defense shall be punished by five years of imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 dinars.”
The controversial politician faces several other cases brought against her by the Independent High Authority for Elections, in addition to another case brought by the Muslim Brotherhood branch in Tunisia. The court of appeals in Tunis recently fined the president of the Free Destourian Party an amount of 5,000 dinars ($1,609) in a case related to violating the electoral silence.
The president of the Free Destourian Party had announced her intention to run in the presidential elections last April, but she faces procedural and legal obstacles, similar to other detained candidates, such as the requirement to present a “number 3” criminal record certificate proving the absence of any judicial ruling, which is a necessary document for candidacy. The presentation of this certificate is essential to complete the candidacy file in addition to collecting endorsements.
Monday marked the beginning of the submission of files to the Independent High Authority for Elections for participation in the presidential elections, which ends on August 6.
Last week, Farouk Bouasker, president of the Independent High Authority for Elections, stated that “the body will decide on the candidacies by no later than Saturday, August 10. The parties will then be informed of the decisions and the list of provisionally accepted candidates will be announced by no later than Sunday, August 11.”
He emphasized that “withdrawal requests from candidates will be accepted on September 2, while the final list of accepted candidates will be announced on September 3.”
About 100 candidates have announced withdrawing their registration forms from the Independent High Authority for Elections to gather endorsements, while several prominent candidates are imprisoned on charges of corruption or conspiracy.
