Lawyers, activists and judges participated in a sit-down in front of the Palace of Justice in Tunis today, Wednesday, to support the judges' strike for the third day in response to President Kais Saied's decision to dismiss dozens of them.
The participants denounced what they described as President Said's interference in the judiciary, the dismissal and defamation of judges, and in particular the accusation of a female judge of adultery.
During the sit-in, the protesters chanted several slogans, including "shake (raise) your hand on the judiciary," "faithful to the honor of honorable people," and "the authority of a judicial authority, not police orders."
The honorary president of the Association of Tunisian Judges, Rawda Al-Qarafi, said in a speech during the vigil that "the judiciary cannot be reformed by violating people's honor."
She added, "We are against this fierce attack against the Tunisian judiciary, which is intended to be subjugated by the direct executive authority."
In recent days, the pioneers of social networking sites in Tunisia circulated a leaked document of an investigation with a judge from among the isolated ones, regarding her accusation of the "crime of adultery", which the judges considered a violation of their colleague's presentation.
President Qais Saeed - a week ago - issued a presidential order dismissing 57 judges from their duties, on several charges, including "changing the course of cases" and "disrupting investigations" into terrorism files and "committing financial and moral corruption", which the judges deny.
The dismissal of the judges was rejected by Tunisian unions and parties and sharp international criticism, particularly from the United States and Amnesty International.
Since the first day of Monday, the judges have entered a general strike in all Tunisian courts and judicial institutions without exception, and announced an open sit-in at all headquarters in implementation of the decision of the Tunisian Judges Association, which refused to dismiss the judges.
The head of the Judges Association, Anas Al-Hamaydi, said in a press statement the day before yesterday, Monday, that 99% of the judges participated in the strike, which continues for a week.
In response to the judges' steps, Saeed ordered that the days of the strike be deducted from their wages, as well as other penalties.
Since July 25, 2021, Tunisia has been experiencing a severe political crisis when Said began imposing exceptional measures, which escalated successively to the dissolution of Parliament and the Supreme Council of the Judiciary and the issuance of legislation through presidential decrees.