Tunisia opens investigation into potential state security conspiracy

Tunisia has opened an investigation into a potential state security conspiracy, lawyer Lamia Khemiri said. Three former and three current Tunisian ambassadors are being investigated.
The investigation will look into whether there was any collusion or inappropriate communication between the ambassadors and state security officials.
The Defence Authority has submitted a request to summon them to testify in the file, Khemiri added, expressing great surprise at the Tunisian state’s failure to comment on the summons. The file in question contains allegations of serious human rights abuses, and it is imperative that those responsible be held to account. Unfortunately, the Tunisian government has thus far been uncooperative in the investigation, and it is our hope that they will see the importance of this case and act accordingly.
Khemiri explained that the case began as a result of two tips. “The two people are involved in conspiracy cases, where one is serving a prison sentence and the other is on release and banned from travel,” Khemiri said, adding that there is no proof in the case, only WhatsApp messages.
In turn, the head of the Salvation Front, Ahmed Najib al-Shabi, announced the establishment of a network to defend the detainees and raise public awareness at home and abroad, while contacting international human rights organisations and demanding the release of all detainees. This network will help to protect detainees from further abuse and mistreatment, and also work to increase public knowledge of the conditions in which they are being held. It is hoped that this will pressure the authorities to release all those who have been detained without due process or for political reasons.
Prison order
Al-Shabi revealed that the network will call for a demonstration on 5 March in solidarity with the detainees and to demand the release of all political prisoners without exception. The network urged the public to participate in the demonstration and called on the international community to pressure the government to release the prisoners. Al-Shabi called on the government to release the detainees and to end the repression of political activists.
More than two weeks ago, a large-scale campaign of arrests was carried out in Tunisia, targeting politicians, journalists, businessmen and trade unionists. Businessman Kamal Al-Latif, former leader of the Ennahda movement Abdul Hamid Jalasi, political activists Khayyam Al-Turki, Johar Bin Mubarak, Shaimaissa, Essam Al-Shabi, Ghazi Ahawashi and Reda Belhaj were among those arrested. Orders were issued to imprison them.
The investigating judge yesterday also issued a prison order against lawyer and political activist Zaher Al-Akrami in relation to suspicions of “forming an agreement with the aim of conspiring against the internal security of the state”.
Al-Akrami is accused of participating in a meeting with a number of other activists and officials, during which they allegedly discussed ways to overthrow the Kuwaiti government. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
This is not the first time Al-Akrami has been in trouble with the law; he was previously arrested in 2011 for his involvement in anti-government protests. His case is just one of many that have been brought against activists and politicians in Kuwait in recent years.
Tunisian security authorities have been waging a campaign of arrests of opposition politicians as President Qais Saied moves forward with laying the foundations of his new presidential system, which gives him power over both the government and judiciary while removing checks on his authority and weakening parliament.
Courtesy