Members of Tunisia’s opposition are facing court for allegedly plotting a coup, reflecting authoritarian trends under President Kais Saied. Following a crackdown in February 2023, many, including politicians and journalists, have been detained. The trial raises concerns over fairness, with defendants linked only via video conferencing. Human rights organizations criticize it as a “pseudo-conspiracy,” while the government defends its actions. Tunisia’s political climate, once hopeful post-Arab Spring, is now marked by fear and uncertainty.
Tunisia’s Opposition Faces Court Over Alleged Coup Plans
Beginning today, members of the opposition in Tunisia are required to defend themselves in court against accusations of plotting a coup. Observers unanimously agree that this is a clear reflection of the authoritarian tendencies of the current president.
A Wave of Arrests and Ongoing Trials
In February 2023, Tunisian security forces conducted a significant crackdown, detaining numerous individuals, including politicians, journalists, and lawyers. They faced serious allegations of conspiracy to overthrow the government.
Now, after more than two years of waiting, the trial for forty defendants has commenced. Among them is Abdelhamid Jelassi, the husband of 58-year-old Monia Brahim. Monia expresses deep concern for her husband’s health, stating that he is ‘forcibly detained’ and battling a return of cancer, ‘may God protect him.’
For this politically active couple, the struggle is all too familiar. Abdelhamid Jelassi was previously imprisoned under the regime of former President Ben Ali, who was ousted during the Arab Spring in 2011. Monia reflects on their 34-year marriage, noting that over half of it has been marred by separations due to imprisonment.
Critics of President Saied are alarmed, fearing he is intent on dismantling democracy in Tunisia.
The defendants, including Jelassi, face serious charges of coup plotting, high treason, and conspiracy, accused of attempting to destabilize the political order. However, the nature of the proceedings raises concerns; the accused are linked only through video conferencing, denying them the opportunity to defend themselves in person.
Dalila Ben Mbarek Msaddek, a lawyer representing some of the accused, describes the trial as monumental, stating, ‘Given the high-profile nature of this case and the gravity of the charges, this is not just the largest trial in Tunisia; it represents a profound injustice in our judicial system.’
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have denounced the trial as a ‘pseudo-conspiracy,’ questioning the validity of the evidence and the length of pre-trial detention—some defendants have been imprisoned for over two years without a trial.
The United Nations has also raised alarms, condemning forced disappearances and urging Tunisian authorities to halt arbitrary arrests and detentions.
Despite international criticism, the Tunisian government remains steadfast in its position, asserting that preparations for civil unrest and coup attempts were indeed made, and rejecting external interference in its internal matters.
Tunisia, once a beacon of hope during the Arab Spring, now finds itself under a cloud of negative attention.
The State of Judiciary and Politics in Tunisia
President Kais Saied has previously threatened judges who release individuals deemed ‘criminals’ or ‘terrorists,’ branding them as supporters of such figures. In 2022, he dismissed numerous judges to tighten his grip on the judiciary. Research from GIGA indicates that the judiciary is now fully under the president’s control.
This trial is just one in a series of legal actions taken against opposition members, activists, and journalists in recent years, demonstrating a troubling trend of increasing authoritarianism under President Kais Saied.
Once hailed as a symbol of democratic aspirations, Tunisia’s future now hangs in uncertainty. The recent election results show Saied winning over 90 percent of the votes, although voter turnout was alarmingly low at under 30 percent, signaling widespread discontent among the populace.
Monia Brahim, who once celebrated Saied’s election in 2019, now lives in fear, recalling the hope she had for a brighter future. ‘Now, we fear that after a demonstration, the police will be waiting, or that a knock on the door will signal danger,’ she laments, reflecting on the return of uncertainty in her life and that of her husband.