Meteorologia

  • 24 NOVEMBER 2024
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20º
MIN 16º MÁX 22º

EU concerned over arrests of opponents, journalists in Tunisia

The European Union (EU) said today that it is following with concern the current situation in Tunisia, where several civil society figures, journalists and politicians were recently arrested at the same time.

EU concerned over arrests of opponents, journalists in Tunisia
Notícias ao Minuto

15:20 - 14/05/24 por Lusa

Mundo Tunísia

"The European Union has been following with concern the recent developments in Tunisia, namely the simultaneous detentions of several civil society figures, journalists and politicians", according to a statement released today, in which it is mentioned that the representation of the community bloc in Tunis asked for explanations from the authorities.

In the same informative note, the EU also recalls that civil society associations and the 'media' have a fundamental role in all democracies, with freedom of expression and association being constitutionally protected in Tunisia.

The position of the European bloc comes a few days after the arrest, with violent overtones, of the lawyer and a renowned critical columnist of political power Sonia Dahmani, a situation that led to the calling of a strike by the Tunisian Bar Association.

Sonia Dahmani was arrested at the premises of the Bar Association in Tunis, where she had taken refuge after being summoned by an investigating judge due to comments made on television.

According to her lawyers, Dahmani was indicted for "false information with the aim of threatening public safety" and "incitement to hate speech", based on Decree-Law 54.

This decree, enacted in September 2022 by President Kais Saied, provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison for anyone who uses information and communication networks to "write, produce, disseminate or reproduce false news (...) with the aim of threatening the rights of another or of compromising public safety".

In the last year and a half, more than 60 people, including journalists, lawyers and opponents of President Kais Saied, have been prosecuted under this decree-law, according to the Tunisian Journalists' Union.

Read Also: Tunisian Bar Association announces strike after lawyer's arrest (Portuguese version)

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