The Public Prosecutor of the Court of First Instance in Tunisia summoned the two lawyers Dalila Mosaddeq and Islam Hamzah for investigation for giving media statements about the cases of prominent opposition figures accused of conspiring against state security.
The investigating judge of office 36 of the anti-terrorism branch earlier issued a decision banning media coverage of the two cases of conspiring against state security.
At least 21 dissidents are being investigated “on unfounded accusations of ‘conspiracy’”, an investigation that began in February 2023. At least 12 people have been arrested in relation to the case, including Rashid Ghannouchi, the country’s biggest political party, alongside a litany of lawyers, journalists, and activists.
Since December, dozens of opposition figures deemed critical of the Tunisian government have been arrested in a growing crackdown against the country’s opposition.
In July 2021, President Saied sacked the government and suspended parliament before moving to rule by decree and eventually taking control of the judiciary, in a move described by opposition parties as a constitutional coup.
