TUNIS: Tunisia has expressed “deep astonishment” after the United Nations accused it of cracking down on political opponents, dismissing the criticism as inaccurate and unfounded.
President Kais Saied was elected in 2019 after Tunisia emerged as the only democracy from the Arab Spring, but in 2021 he staged a sweeping power grab that has seen a rollback on freedoms.
The UN human rights office last week condemned the “persecution of political opponents” in Tunisia, including arbitrary arrests, flawed trials and vague charges against activists, journalists and opposition figures.
The foreign ministry rejected the allegations in a statement posted on Facebook overnight.
“Tunisia has received with deep astonishment the inaccuracies and criticisms contained in the statement issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, regarding the situations of some Tunisian citizens who are subject to judicial prosecution by the national judiciary,” it said.
“Tunisia does not need to emphasize its keenness to protect human rights as it deeply believes in these rights and is committed to the provisions of its constitution, its national laws and its international commitments.
“In this context, Tunisia can give lessons to those who think they are in a position to make statements or lessons,” it added.
The statement defended Tunisia’s security forces, saying they “do not pursue demonstrators but rather secure and protect them” and provide some opposition figures with “special protection.”
On Wednesday, the day after the UN criticism, prominent human rights activist Sihem Bensedrine, held since August, was released, but the 70-year-old remains under prosecution and subject to a travel ban.
The foreign ministry insisted the cases cited by the UN involved “public law crimes unrelated to political, party or media activities, or the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression.”
“No one can claim to be above accountability or use pressure at home or abroad to evade justice or escape punishment,” it said, adding judicial proceedings were independent and respected all legal guarantees.
Dozens of political figures, including Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, as well as businessmen and journalists, are in detention.
Most face charges of plotting “against state security.” Ghannouchi was sentenced to 22 years in prison earlier this month.
A high-profile trial, known as the “state security conspiracy case,” is set to open on March 4.
Tunisia voices ‘astonishment’ at UN criticism of rights record
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Tunisia voices ‘astonishment’ at UN criticism of rights record
- The UN human rights office last week condemned the “persecution of political opponents” in Tunisia, including arbitrary arrests, flawed trials and vague charges against activists, journalists and opposition figures
Palestinians attempt to use Gaza’s Rafah Border crossing amidst delays
- The Rafah Crossing opened to a few Palestinians in each direction last week, after Israel retrieved the body of the last hostage held in Gaza and several American officials visited Israel to press for the opening
CAIRO: Palestinians on both sides of the crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which opened last week for the first time since 2024, were making their way to the border on Sunday in hopes of crossing, one of the main requirements for the US-backed ceasefire. The opening comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington this week, though the major subject of discussion will be Iran, his office said.
The Rafah Crossing opened to a few Palestinians in each direction last week, after Israel retrieved the body of the last hostage held in Gaza and several American officials visited Israel to press for the opening. Over the first four days of the crossing’s opening, just 36 Palestinians requiring medical care were allowed to leave for Egypt, plus 62 companions, according to United Nations data.
Palestinian officials say nearly 20,000 people in Gaza are seeking to leave for medical care that they say is not available in the war-shattered territory. The few who have succeeded in crossing described delays and allegations of mistreatment by Israeli forces and other groups involved in the crossing, including and an Israeli-backed Palestinian armed group, Abu Shabab.
A group of Palestinian patients and wounded gathered Sunday morning in the courtyard of a Red Crescent hospital in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis, before making their way to the Rafah crossing with Egypt for treatment abroad, family members told The Associated Press.
Amjad Abu Jedian, who was injured in the war, was scheduled to leave Gaza for medical treatment on the first day of the crossing’s reopening, but only five patients were allowed to travel that day, his mother, Raja Abu Jedian, said. Abu Jedian was shot by an Israeli sniper while he was building traditional bathrooms in the central Bureij refugee camp in July 2024, she said.
On Saturday, his family received a call from the World Health Organization notifying them that he is included in the group that will travel on Sunday, she said.
“We want them to take care of the patients (during their evacuation),” she said. “We want the Israeli military not to burden them.”
The Israeli defense branch that oversees the operation of the crossing did not immediately confirm the opening.
A group of Palestinians also arrived Sunday morning at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing border to return to the Gaza Strip, Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News satellite television reported.
Palestinians who returned to Gaza in the first few days of the crossing’s operation described hours of delays and invasive searches by Israeli authorities and an Israeli-backed Palestinian armed group, Abu Shabab. A European Union mission and Palestinian officials run the border crossing, and Israel has its screening facility some distance away.
The crossing was reopened on Feb. 2 as part of a fragile ceasefire deal that stopped the war between Israel and Hamas. Amid confusion around the reopening, the Rafah crossing was closed Friday and Saturday.
The Rafah crossing, an essential lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza, was the only crossing not controlled by Israel prior to the war. Israel seized the Palestinian side of Rafah in May 2024, though traffic through the crossing was heavily restricted even before that.
Restrictions negotiated by Israeli, Egyptian, Palestinian and international officials meant that only 50 people would be allowed to return to Gaza each day and 50 medical patients — along with two companions for each — would be allowed to leave, but far fewer people than expected have crossed in both directions.
