Hatem Meziou, President of the Tunisian Bar Association. EPA
Hatem Meziou, President of the Tunisian Bar Association. EPA
Hatem Meziou, President of the Tunisian Bar Association. EPA
Hatem Meziou, President of the Tunisian Bar Association. EPA

Four opposition lawyers in Tunisia under investigation over suspected conspiracy


Ghaya Ben Mbarek
  • English
  • Arabic

Four prominent opposition lawyers in Tunisia are facing charges of conspiracy against the state, the Tunisian Lawyers' Bar has said.

The lawyers include Ahmed Najib Chebbi, leader of the National Salvation Front, the country's largest opposing group, and prominent human rights defender Bochra Belhaj Hmida.

Ennahdha leader Noureddine Bhiri, who has already been detained, and defence lawyer Ayachi Hammami also face charges.

The investigative judge at the anti-terrorism judicial division informed the Tunis branch of the lawyers’ bar of the charges against four of its lawyers on Wednesday, Tunisia's Mosaique FM reported.

In the case, several people face accusations of forming an alliance with the aim of plotting against the internal security of the state.

“We condemn the continued policing ... of [President] Kais Saied regime towards political opponents and the expansion of repression,” lawyer Ayachi Hammami said on Thursday morning.

“We demand an end to the current status quo and the immediate release of political prisoners.”

Twenty-three people could face investigation in the case, Mr Chebbi said.

He said he would not co-operate with the judge in charge would refuse to give a statement on the allegations.

A growing number of opposing political figures have been arrested in Tunisia in recent weeks, including other members of the National Salvation Front and its main component Ennahdha.

The most recent arrest involved Ennahdha’s leader and co-founder Rached Ghannouchi, who was charged in the same case two weeks ago.

Police also raided the party’s headquarters in the capital Tunis and banned all meetings and activities until further notice.

The arrests and prosecutions, which also involved businessmen and journalists, have drawn concern from the US, EU Parliament, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Tunisian president Kais Saied froze parliament in July 2021 and single-handedly pushed through sweeping changes to the country’s political system, which have concentrated near-total power in his office.

Mr Saied has repeatedly described those detained as terrorists and accused them, without providing evidence, of plotting against Tunisia’s national security.

Critics accused the president of meddling into the judiciary’s authority and exercising his authority to influence the investigation.

From Conquest to Deportation

Jeronim Perovic, Hurst

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Tips for avoiding trouble online
  • Do not post incorrect information and beware of fake news
  • Do not publish or repost racist or hate speech, yours or anyone else’s
  • Do not incite violence and be careful how to phrase what you want to say
  • Do not defame anyone. Have a difference of opinion with someone? Don’t attack them on social media
  • Do not forget your children and monitor their online activities
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Company%20Profile
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

What went into the film

25 visual effects (VFX) studios

2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots

1,000 VFX artists

3,000 technicians

10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers

New sound technology, named 4D SRL

 

Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
  • US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
  • Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
  • Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
  • Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
  • Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
  • The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
  • Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
  • Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Dhadak

Director: Shashank Khaitan

Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana

Stars: 3

Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

Updated: May 04, 2023, 1:59 PM`