UN condemns Tunisia for arrest of former justice minister | Issues of Human Rights

The UN expresses “grave concerns” about the violation of human rights in Tunisia, the demands of the Ennahdha chief to be released or prosecuted.

The United Nations has said it is concerned about human rights abuses in Tunisia and wants a former justice minister who barred the Ennahdha party from being prosecuted or released.

Noureddine Bhiri, a Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairman of Ennahdha, was arrested in a car by uniformed police officers on December 31 and was detained in an undisclosed location for several hours.

He was later charged with terrorism.

A 63-year-old man, who has a number of pre-existing conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, was transferred to the hospital on January 2 after being rushed to the hospital. starvation.

He remains in the hospital, where he is being cared for.

Former interior minister Fathi Baldi was arrested on December 31 in similar circumstances. For several days he was hidden where he was.

Liz Throssell, a spokeswoman for the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, said Tuesday that the unprecedented arrests of the men have raised concerns about the UN’s “former concern for human rights abuses” in Tunisia.

He also said that the arrests “have not been seen since [former President Zine El Abidine] Ben Ali “and urged Tunisian authorities to release the two or to prosecute the two.

Concerns about ‘preventing disagreements’

Tunisia was the only democracy that emerged from the 2011 Arab Spring insurgency, when Ben Ali was ousted, along with other Arab leaders.

Ennahdha played a key role in Ben Ali’s transformation into a seizure of power by President Kais Saied in July last year.

Biri has demanded the release of Biri and has condemned his imprisonment on the grounds that it was an illegal way to prevent political protests in the country.

Promising to eradicate corruption, on July 25 last year, Saied overthrew the Ennahdha-backed government, dissolved parliament – where the party is large – and later took legal action.

Opponents and groups have expressed fears they will return to Ben Ali’s authoritarianism.

Throssell said the UN “is concerned about preventing tensions in Tunisia, including the misuse of anti-terrorism laws, and the increasing number of military courts in civil cases”.

But many Tunisians, tired of the seemingly fraudulent and ineffective system, have accepted what Saied has done.

Amid the global turmoil, a Tunisian press conference said on Tuesday that state television had done so. banned all political parties entering his house or taking part in demonstrations. The ban is said to have been in effect since Saied took office in July.

Delegates from seven Western countries including the European Union urged Tunisia last month to respect “fundamental rights” and set a time for a return to democratic institutions.

Saied has also stated that he respects all rights and freedoms and will not be a dictator.