Today, Saturday, the Tunisian General Labor Union (the largest trade union in the country) organized demonstrations in several governorates to denounce what it describes as attacks on trade union rights and freedoms, while the Judges Association demanded that the Public Prosecution Office not be politically employed following the recent arrests that included prominent politicians.

Thousands of Labor Union affiliates demonstrated in the cities of Sfax, Nabeul, and Monastir (east), Kairouan (center), Bizerte (north), Jendouba (northwest), Tozeur (southwest), and Kasserine (west).

These demonstrations come as part of a series of protests after the arrest of a prominent trade unionist in the transportation sector and the summoning of others for investigation, and after statements by President Qais Saeed in which he considered that labor movements conceal political aims.

The demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing the policies of President Kais Saied with regard to freedoms and economic and social conditions, and they also raised slogans, including: "Stop the assault on the union, freedoms of freedoms, the police state and the death (it is over), no to raising subsidies, no to selling public institutions, no fear, no terror, the street belongs." the people.”

Trade unionists also raised slogans criticizing the government's policies and what they called starving the people and striking the purchasing power by raising subsidies. They also demanded the protection of rights and freedoms.

Dangerous zig

During the demonstration that took place in Sfax, Samir al-Shafi, assistant secretary-general of the Labor Union, said that the relationship between the union and the authority had reached a "dangerous turning point", and that the labor organization rejected the practices of harassing trade unionists and targeting freedom of union work, stressing that the Labor Union would not compromise on the rights of Tunisians to work. Live with dignity, as he put it.

Sami Al-Tahri, assistant secretary-general of the organization, said that these moves come in defense of the trade union right and inform the authority that the people and workers are with the union and that targeting the organization will be doomed to failure.

Al-Tahri added that there is no way out of the impasse the country is going through except through dialogue, stressing that there is no room for individual rule in Tunisia.

In a speech he delivered at the Sfax demonstration, Othman al-Jalouli, another assistant to the Secretary-General, said, "The authority has failed politically, socially and economically, but now it wants to silence the voice of the union and silence the voices of trade unionists."

Esther Lynch, Deputy Secretary-General of the European Confederation of Trade Unions, participated in this demonstration, who said that she came carrying a message of support from 45 million European trade unionists. Lynch called on the Tunisian authorities to "remove their hands from trade unions and immediately release union officials."

Officials of the Labor Union considered the prosecution of some trade unionists before the judiciary as a direct targeting of the union and a declaration of war against it by President Qais Saeed.

Public Prosecution

On the other hand, the Tunisian Judges Association expressed today, Saturday, its surprise at the Public Prosecution's silence so far regarding the campaign of arrests that took place last week of activists, including politicians, lawyers, and judges, despite its commitment to their files more than a week ago.

In a statement issued by the Prosecution of the Court of First Instance in the Tunisian capital, the Judges Association called for enlightening public opinion regarding the procedural paths of all important cases.

It also called for avoiding any political recruitment of the prosecution that would undermine confidence in the judiciary and its independence.

The Tunisian president had said that the detainees were in the process of "conspiring against state security," adding that the procedures had been respected.

However, lawyers confirmed that they were arrested in flagrant violation of the procedures, noting that there was no evidence available to justify their arrest.

The Tunisian opposition accuses the authorities of placing its hand on the Public Prosecution and the judiciary and fabricating charges against its violators.

Among those arrested last week were Noureddine El-Bahiri, Vice President of the Ennahda Movement, former ministers Khayyam al-Turki and Lazhar al-Akrami, businessman Kamal al-Latif, and Judge Bashir al-Akrami, who was responsible for the assassination of dissidents Chokri Belaid and Mohamed al-Brahmi in 2013, and the director of Mosaique's private radio station, Noureddine. butcher.