International arrest warrant issued for former Tunisian officials on terrorism charges

Tunis, Sept 12 (EFE) – The Tunisian anti-terrorist justice system issued on Tuesday an international arrest warrant for a dozen former officials and political leaders, including former Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and the president’s former chief of staff, Nadia Akacha, as part of a case opened for “plotting against the security of the State.”

Among the accused are the former director general of National Security, Kamel Guizani; the former director of the Judicial Police, Abdelkader Farhat; the journalist Chahradez Akacha and several leaders of the Islamist party Ennahda, the main political force in Tunisia during the last decade, such as Lotfi Zitoun and Adel Daadaa.

Also under investigation is the son of the historic leader of this party and former president of the Parliament, Rached Ghannouchi – sentenced to twelve months in prison for “apology of terrorism” -Mouadh Kheriji.

President Kaïs Saied, who assumed full powers in July 2021, ordered days earlier to reinforce security against pressure groups allegedly seeking to divide citizens and deteriorate the social situation through food speculation and the embezzlement of electoral campaign money.

Since the beginning of the year, authorities have arrested some twenty prominent political figures, businessmen, judges, and journalists for the alleged crime of “plotting against state security,” a charge for which they could face the death penalty.

The leader accuses them of being “traitors and terrorists” and has warned that any judge who frees them should be considered their accomplice. At the same time, the Association of Tunisian Magistrates denounces pressure to impose sentences.

For its part, the opposition warns of judicial persecution against dissidents in an attempt to divert public attention from the economic and social crisis the country is going through and to prevent its organization in view of the 2024 presidential elections still in the air. EFE

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