The National Committee for the Defense of the Independence of the Judiciary in Tunisia on Saturday called on the authorities in the country to respect the judiciary in practice and practice, and to stay away from all inflammatory speech.
Committee member Judge Afif al-Jaidi confirmed that the dismissed judges are committed to the justice of their case a full year after the issuance of the decision to dismiss 57 judges by presidential order.
During a scientific seminar held in Tunis under the title "In Defense of the Independence of the Judiciary in Tunisia", Al-Jaidi stressed that there are no developments in the file of the dismissed judges, despite the issuance of rulings by the Administrative Court to suspend the implementation of the dismissal of a number of them.
Jaidi added that there are major question points raised today about the independence of the judiciary in Tunisia, calling for respect for the independence of the judiciary, and adherence to international rules related to the right to a fair trial and an independent judiciary.
Tunisians and civil society reject the political use of the judiciary or political interference in judicial affairs, he said.
Broad participation
A number of local and international human rights bodies participated in the seminar, including Lawyers Without Borders, the International Commission of Jurists, Human Rights Watch, and others.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwait, also participated, as well as a representative of the International Union of Lawyers.
In early June last year, Tunisian President Kais Saied issued a presidential order dismissing 57 judges from their duties on charges including changing the course of cases and obstructing investigations into terrorism and committing financial and moral corruption.