President of the Free Constitutional Party, Abir Moussi, gestures as she chants slogans, during a protest march on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of the Evacuation Day, in Tunis, Tunisia, on October 15, 2022, to protest over the economic and social crisis, the price increases, the rising cost of living, and general social policies of the Tunisian president Kais Saied.
Are Tunisian Authorities Trying to Silence Opposition Ahead of Elections?
Another potential opposition candidate, Abir Moussi, is likely to be barred from contesting the Tunisian presidential elections in October following a sentencing.
Tunisian opposition leader Abir Moussi of the Free Constitutional Party has vowed to appeal a court ruling that sentenced her to two years in prison under the Cybercrime Decree-Law 54. The law was enacted by President Kais Saeid to combat “false news.”Moussi is the latest in a long line of opposition who have been sentenced in Tunisia ahead of the elections.
If the ruling is upheld, Moussi will be unable to contest in the elections since presidential candidates are required to have no criminal records. Moussi was arrested last October for criticizing the electoral process, citing a lack of transparency, to which the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) submitted complaints that led to the opposition leader’s arrest.
According to Amnesty International, Moussi had been arbitrarily detained and was “facing criminal investigation for the legitimate exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in two separate judicial investigations,” as she was also charged in relation to protests organized by her party. Her conviction is the latest in what observers and critics say is an ongoing wave of repression against political opponents by President Saeid.
Saeid, who took absolute control of the Tunisian government two years after being elected in 2021, has been establishing himself as the country’s de-facto ruler, weaponizing racism and persecuting dissent. According to the National Union of Tunisian Journalists, more than 60 critical voices have been prosecuted under the cybercrime decree.
Moussi’s conviction is happening as Tunisia’s electoral body is looking into eligible candidates for the presidential election, which is widely expected to be a weakened opposition field. Several potential candidates are being prosecuted or already in prison, including prominent politician Abdel Latif Mekki and media personality Nizar Chaari, who were among four people sentenced to prison on charges of vote buying and signature forgery earlier this week.
Last month, president of the Republican People’s Union party, Lotfi Mraihi was given an eight-month prison sentence and banned from contesting elections for life, on charges of vote buying and money laundering, and was also prosecuted under the cybercrimes decree. Mraihi, one of the strongest opponents if he were to contest, is appealing the verdict ahead of the elections.
Meanwhile, Saeid filed his candidacy papers on Monday, saying he had received over 240,000 signatures from registered voters across the country. Speaking to the media, he denounced criticism that his government is suppressing freedom of speech and going after dissenting voices. “I did not oppress anyone, and the law applies to everyone equally,” he said. “I am here as a citizen to run for office.”
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