Tunisia is currently the scene of unprecedented political protest. Since February, around fifty political opponents of President Kaïs Saïed have been imprisoned and even risk the death penalty. Faced with this critical situation, the lawyers of these prisoners decided to try a poker game by requesting the hearing of eight Western diplomats.
This request aims to shed light on the accusations made by the prosecution. Indeed, political opponents are accused of having fomented a plot against the State by conspiring with foreign powers. Lawyers say the accusations are based on meetings and email exchanges between opponents and officials from the embassies of the United States, France, Italy, Spain and the European Union.
The defense therefore wants the diplomats in question to testify in court to explain that these meetings were simply normal meetings as part of their work as ambassadors. It is thus a question of putting pressure on these Western countries, which have until now remained rather silent in the face of the autocratic excesses of President Kaïs Saïed, denounced by numerous NGOs.
This request for a hearing from diplomats represents a crucial issue for the continuation of the affair. Indeed, if the Tunisian justice system agrees to summon these eight diplomats, this could call into question the accusations made against political opponents and highlight the abuses of President Kaïs Saïed. On the other hand, if the request is rejected, it would reinforce the feeling of injustice and repression that currently reigns in Tunisia.
The situation is all the more worrying as the two main detainees, Jawhar Ben Mbarek and Rached Ghannouchi, have started a hunger strike to denounce the injustices of their incarceration. In this context, the decision of the Tunisian justice system regarding the summoning of diplomats will be closely scrutinized, both by political opponents and the international community.
It is essential that the Tunisian justice system demonstrates independence and transparency in this matter. Human rights and fundamental freedoms must be respected, and the truth must come to light. Tunisia, cradle of the Arab Spring, cannot afford to go backwards and give in to authoritarianism.
The request to hear from Western diplomats is an essential step towards the search for the truth and the defense of the rights of Tunisian political opponents. Let us hope that justice will show courage and integrity by accepting this request, and that light will finally be shed on this affair which marks a turning point in the political history of Tunisia.