Reactions continue to condemn Tunisian President Kais Saied's issuance of a presidential order to dismiss 57 judges from their duties last Wednesday, as Ennahda movement denounced the move, considering it an attempt by the president to "lay a hand on the judiciary and end the independence of the judiciary."

There are also withdrawals from the "national dialogue" called for by President Saeed, whose first meeting will start today, Saturday.

The "Somood" coalition - which includes figures supporting Saeed - announced its withdrawal from the dialogue, justifying its decision not to provide the minimum conditions and guarantees for participation in the dialogue, while sticking to what it called the success of the July 25 process.

On the other hand, Mouldi Jendoubi, former assistant secretary general of the General Labor Union, apologized for not participating in the dialogue.

Regarding the president's decision to dismiss the judges, the Ennahda movement strongly condemned the move and what it described as a "policy of distortion and systematic intimidation" of judges.

The movement considered - in a statement to its executive office - the step as an attempt by the president to put a hand on the judiciary, end the independence of the judiciary, and use this to strike opponents, restrict freedoms, and focus the system of individual rule.

Ennahda warned against targeting Parliament Speaker and Movement Chairman Rashid Ghannouchi, people's representatives and political opponents, through a "functional judiciary" that lacks the conditions for a fair trial.

The movement said, "President Saeed has no choice but to put himself on the judges' sofa and issue his judgments at his whim, which would please the members of the deception panel," referring to the defense committee of Belaid and Brahmi.

The Executive Office of Ennahda called on "all forces that believe in freedom, democracy and sovereignty" to "unify their word and strengthen their efforts and struggles in order to end the coup and limit its dangerous repercussions."

Civil organizations and bodies, including Amnesty International, the International Federation for Human Rights and the World Organization Against Torture, as well as a number of activists and academics, had criticized President Said's dismissal of judges from their duties.


monopoly of power

It is noteworthy that Saeed - who is accused of monopolizing the authorities in the country - strengthened his judicial powers by amending a law regulating the Supreme Judicial Council, according to which he dismissed 57 judges.

Last Wednesday evening, the Official Gazette issued a list of 57 judges whose dismissal was taken on charges including “covering up terrorist cases, corruption, sexual harassment, affiliation with political parties, obstruction of cases,” and that they will be prosecuted, said Saeed in a ministerial meeting. .

Among the dismissed judges, a former spokesman for the judicial pole to combat terrorism, a former director general of customs and the former head of the Supreme Judicial Council, and other judges who were previously accused of being close to influential political parties.

The decision also includes judges who were supervising the so-called "secret service" file related to the investigation into the political assassinations of two politicians in 2013.

Saeed amended the decree of the Interim Supreme Judicial Council to be able to take a decision, and last February dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council and the independent constitutional body that was established in 2016 and works to ensure the independence of the judiciary.

It also amended the Elections and Referendum Law.