(2 minutes read)
- Tunisia’s Judges Association called for a suspension of work in all courts in the country on Wednesday, Feb. 9 and Thursday 10 to protest President Kais Saied’s move to dissolve the Supreme Judicial Council
- They also called for a protest in front of the Supreme Judicial Council on Feb. 10. But supporters of the president have welcomed his moves to rid the country of a system they see as corrupt
Tunisia’s Judges Association called for a suspension of work in all courts in the country on Wednesday, Feb. 9 and Thursday 10 to protest President Kais Saied’s move to dissolve the Supreme Judicial Council. They also called for a protest in front of the Supreme Judicial Council on Feb. 10. But supporters of the president have welcomed his moves to rid the country of a system they see as corrupt.
Tunisian President Kais Saied announced his decision to dissolve the Council on Sunday, which is mandated to ensure the independence of the judicial system and tasked with appointing most of the nation’s judges.
Established in 2016, the High Judicial Council was hailed as a major advance in the consolidation of the rule of law, separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary in Tunisia. Internal Security Forces have cordoned off the Judicial Council’s office buildings, preventing judges and staff from entering the premises. Online hate campaigns and threats have been targeting the Council’s members.
Many described the president’s move as “the latest development in a worrying trajectory in the country”. On 25 July last year, the president suspended the national parliament and assumed all executive functions. There are repeated attempts to stifle dissent, including through the harassment of civil society actors.
