Tunisia releases two political opponents accused of "conspiracy" over State security

The Tunisian judiciary released the opposition figures accused in the case known as the "conspiracy against state security" in Tunisia, Shaima Issa and Lotfi Akrami.

The defense team stated that the investigating judge decided to "release Shaima Issa, as well as responded to the defense team's request regarding the release of Professor Mohamed Lotfi Akrami."

On June 23, the Tunisian Public Prosecutor's Office appealed the decision to release the opposition activist Shaima Issa (43 years old), who had been detained on suspicion of "conspiring against state security" since February 22.

Shaima Issa is a human rights activist who previously worked as a journalist. She is a prominent figure in the National Salvation Front, the main opposition coalition to President Kais Saied, who has held executive powers since July 25, 2021.

Former minister and lawyer Lotfi Akrami (64 years old) was also arrested on the same day as part of a widespread campaign that targeted around twenty opposition figures with charges of "conspiring against internal and external state security."

President Kais Saied described the detainees as "terrorists."

Shaima Issa and Lotfi Akrami were released from prison late on Thursday night, and Akrami stated in a statement to the press, "We do not know why we were imprisoned or why we were released."

Meanwhile, Issa expressed, "My happiness is incomplete as the remaining detainees are still in prison."

Some of the detainees were questioned about their meetings and phone correspondence with foreign diplomats, while others were questioned about their interviews with the media, according to their lawyers.

Local and international non-governmental organizations condemned the arrests, denouncing the political will to "suppress free voices."

Dozens of protesters in Tunisia demanded the release of opposition detainees who oppose President Kais Saied's policies, and they denounced what they described as "judicial instructions," according to a correspondent from Agence France-Presse.

The protesters gathered in front of the Court of Appeal headquarters in the Tunisian capital, responding to the call made by the families of the detainees.

The official spokesperson for the Ennahda Movement, Imad Khemiri, the largest opposition party, told AFP, "The gathering is in response to the call from the families of the political prisoners to demand the release of all detainees."

Khemiri, who is also a member of the National Salvation Front coalition, added, "The arrests were made to divert public opinion from the real issues that the country is facing, which are necessarily economic, social, and financial crises. They are an expression of the stifling political and constitutional crisis."

Abdelaziz, the son of the detained opposition figure Issam Chebbi, considered that "my father is paying the price for his love for Tunisia."

He added, "The judiciary does not work independently; it operates under pressure."

In addition to the political crisis that began in Tunisia in 2021, the debt-laden country is facing a severe financial crisis and is seeking external funding.

On Wednesday, European lawmakers expressed their opposition to any "unconditional agreement" between the European Union and Tunisia due to the "excesses" committed by President Saied.

They called on the Tunisian authorities to "release arbitrarily detained opposition figures, defend the rights of Tunisian citizens, and support their struggle for democracy."

Among the prominent political figures detained is Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Ennahda Movement.

On May 24, the Tunisian judiciary also released the director of the widely circulated private radio station "Mosaique FM," Nour El-Din Buttar, who was detained in the same case.



AFP