Kais Saied - The African Mirror

May

20

2023

Tunisia frees two students arrested for satirical song criticising police

A Tunisian judge freed two students arrested over a satirical song criticising the police after President Kais Saied said their detention was "totally unacceptable" and called for their release, their lawyers said. Youssef Chelbi and Dhia Nsir were arrested on Wednesday after posting a clip on Tik Tok and Facebook showing them laughing and singing a sarcastic song upbraiding the police over the treatment of detainees and a drugs law. Their arrest on charges of insulting others through social networks alarmed rights activists and bloggers, who republished the song to show solidarity with them. They said freedoms in Tunisia were under siege…

May

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisia detains two students over satirical song criticizing police

NEWS

TAREK AMARA TUNISIAN police arrested two students over a satirical song criticizing the police, their lawyer said on Wednesday, reinforcing fears of an erosion of freedom of speech after President Kais Saied seized most powers two years ago. Youssef Chelbi and Dhia Nsir posted a clip on Tik Tok and Facebook this week showing them laughing and singing a sarcastic song criticizing the police's treatment of detainees and a drugs law. Lawyer Imen Souissi said they are facing charges of insulting others through social networks and they could face up to a year in prison if the court finds them…

May

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisia president pledges safety for Jewish citizens after synagogue attack

NEWS

TUNISIAN president Kais Saied pledged to guarantee the safety of Jewish citizens and their temples, after meeting the country's chief rabbi in the wake of a deadly attack at a synagogue. Last Tuesday a National Guardsman killed two Jewish visitors and two policemen at the synagogue on Djerba island - Africa's oldest - before being shot dead. He had earlier killed a colleague at a naval installation. Saied last week blamed the attack on "criminals" seeking to harm the tourism sector. On Wednesday he met with Tunisia's chief rabbi, chief Christian archbishop and Muslim mufti, saying that receiving clerics sent…

Apr

21

2023

By TAREK AMARA

Judge orders jail for Tunisian opposition leader

NEWS

A Tunisian judge ordered opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi to be detained before his trial on charges of plotting against state security, his lawyer said, the latest move on opponents of President Kais Saied. The 81-year-old head of the Islamist Ennahda party was the speaker of the elected parliament, which was shut down in 2021 by Saied when he seized all powers. Ghannouchi, who was arrested on Monday, was ordered detained following an investigation by the judge that lasted eight hours, lawyer Monia Bouali said. No date has been set for any trial or the next hearing. "The issue is related to…

Apr

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisia police arrest three prominent officials of Ennahda party

NEWS

TUNISIAN police arrested three prominent officials of the main opposition Ennahda party, hours after they detained party leader Rached Ghannouchi, the most prominent critic of President Kais Saied, a lawyer and officials said. Lawyer Monia Bouali told Reuters that the officials arrested are Mohamed Goumani, Belkacem Hassan and Mohammed Chnaiba. Officials in Ennahda confirmed the arrests. Police raided Ennahda party headquarters early on Tuesday and evacuated all present to start a search that will take days, after showing a judicial warrant, party officials said. Police have this year detained leading political figures who accuse Saied of what they call a…

Mar

25

2023

By The African Mirror

African migrants say racism in Tunisia persists

NEWS

WEEKS after a violent crackdown on migrants in Tunisia that triggered a perilous rush to leave by smuggler boats for Italy, many African nationals are still homeless and jobless and some say they still face racist attacks. Outside the United Nations refugee agency in Tunis, dozens of African migrants stood protesting this week in the temporary camp where they have lived, including with children, since authorities urged landlords to force them from their homes. "We need evacuation. Tunisia is not safe. No one has a future here when you have this colour. It is a crime to have this colour," said Josephus…

Mar

25

2023

By The African Mirror

African migrants stuck in Tunisia say racism persists after crackdown

NEWS

WEEKS after a violent crackdown on migrants in Tunisia that triggered a perilous rush to leave by smuggler boats for Italy, many African nationals are still homeless and jobless and some say they still face racist attacks. Outside the United Nations refugee agency in Tunis, dozens of African migrants stood protesting this week in the temporary camp where they have lived, including with children, since authorities urged landlords to force them from their homes. "We need evacuation. Tunisia is not safe. No one has a future here when you have this colour. It is a crime to have this colour," said Josephus…

Mar

12

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisia detainees start hunger strike

NEWS

THREE prominent opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied who were arrested last month and accused of conspiring against state security have gone on hunger strike, their lawyer and the son of one of them said. Former finance minister Khayam Turki, Attayar party co-founder Ghazi Chaouachi and protest leader Jawher Ben Mbarek were all detained as part of a crackdown on leading critics of Saied that has drawn a rebuke from rights organisations. Islam Hamza, a lawyer for the three men, said they had all begun a hunger strike. Chaouachi's son Youssef told Reuters authorities had told him they were moving…

Mar

11

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisia’s president is targeting migrants to divert attention from serious domestic problems – a classic tactic

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

TUNISIA’S president Kais Saied recently called for urgent measures against illegal immigration of sub-Saharan African nationals. He said they were a source of “violence, crime and unacceptable acts”. His comments were condemned by the international community and the World Bank paused talks over its future engagement with Tunisia. They also led to widespread protests in Tunisia while hundreds of migrants fled the country. Author JEAN-PIERRE CASSARINO, Visiting professor, College of Europe Moina Spooner, from The Conversation Africa, asked Jean-Pierre Cassarino, an expert on international migration in the Maghreb and Africa region, to shed light on migration to Tunisia and what…

Mar

07

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisian president rejects racism accusation after migrant crackdown

NEWS

TUNISIA'S president denounced racism and pointed to possible legal consequences for perpetrators 10 days after announcing a crackdown on illegal migration using language the African Union condemned as "racialised hate speech". During a statement on February 21 telling security forces to expel all illegal immigrants, President Kais Saied called migration a conspiracy to change Tunisia's demographics by making it more African and less Arab. Police detained hundreds of migrants, landlords summarily evicted hundreds from their homes and hundreds of others were fired from work, rights groups say. Many migrants said they had been attacked, including being pelted with stones by gangs of youths…