The Tunisian trade union center UGTT protested, Wednesday, February 1, after the arrest of one of its leaders, making the link with a speech by President Kaïs Saïed who denounced Tuesday evening an instrumentalization of the right to strike for political ends.

The arrest of Anis Kaabi, secretary general of the highways union, one of the components of the UGTT, is "a blow to union work, a violation of union rights and international conventions [signed by Tunisia for the respect for trade union freedoms and the right to strike],” the UGTT said in a statement.

The UGTT, present in all branches of the Tunisian economy, claims one million members, and its role in Tunisia's transition to democracy was rewarded in 2015 with the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to a Quartet bringing together three other civil society organizations.

Calling for the "immediate release" of Anis Kaabi, the UGTT denounced "a targeting of trade union rights and freedoms", stressing that the arrest took place "immediately" after a speech by President Saïed in Tunis.

In a video of the speech, the head of state denounced "those who block roads and threaten to block highways", believing that they "should no longer benefit from impunity".

“The right to organize is guaranteed by the Constitution but cannot become a cover for political ends,” he said.

The UGTT underlined the "legal" nature of the strike linked to wage demands followed Monday and Tuesday at the motorway barriers, characterized by a non-collection of tolls.

According to the trade union center led by Nourredine Taboubi, Anis Kaabi is being prosecuted for having "caused financial losses" for the public highway company and therefore the state coffers.

Arguing in particular the arbitrary arrests and trials of civilians before military courts, NGOs and the opposition have denounced a decline in fundamental rights in Tunisia since the coup by President Kaïs Saïed of July 25, 2021 by which he monopolized all powers, including the judiciary.

With AFP

>> To read also on France24.com: From the coup de force of Kaïs Saïed to the legislative elections, how Tunisia got bogged down in the crisis

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