The Ministry of Justice indicated that the public prosecutor’s office took up a “significant number” of cases, out of a total of 109 related to “financial, economic crimes and other crimes of a terrorist nature”
The Tunisian Ministry of Justice announced on Saturday the transmission of a “significant number” of files to justice, after the prosecution seized 109 files related to “financial, economic crimes and other crimes of a terrorist nature. “against the dismissed judges.
The ministry said in a statement seen by Anadolu Agency: “In accordance with the provisions of Decree 35 of 2022 (relating to the dismissal of judges), the competent public ministry took up the files (109 files), and authorized the referral of a significant number of them to judicial centers specializing in terrorist crimes and financial corruption.
The statement added: “Judicial information has been opened for several criminal acts, such as financial corruption, misappropriation, money laundering, economic and customs crimes, in addition to crimes of a terrorist nature, such as covering up ‘a terrorist organization and the disruption and misuse of procedures.”
And to add: “In addition to other crimes, such as concealment of evidence of crimes, loss of criminal evidence, or even fraud, sexual harassment and violation of the laws on weapons and ammunition.”
The statement said that “criminal proceedings have been initiated against the dismissed judges.”
He explains that the ministry “communicated to the Provisional Superior Council of the Judiciary the list of dismissed judges subject to criminal proceedings (without naming them).”
Last June, Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed issued a presidential decree relieving 57 judges of their duties, accusing them in particular of “hijacking the course of business”, “disrupting investigations” in cases of terrorism and “financial corruption”. and breaches of ethics”, which the judges dispute.
On August 14, the Ministry of Justice announced in a statement that the judges targeted by the dismissal decision are still subject to criminal proceedings after the Tunisian Administrative Court decided to suspend the execution of the decision. dismissal of a number of judges.
The decree dismissing the 57 magistrates has aroused the dissatisfaction of Tunisian unions and parties and strong international criticism, in particular from the United States and Amnesty International.
Tunisia has been going through a serious political crisis since July 25, 2021, when Saïed undertook to impose emergency measures, including the dismissal of the government and the appointment of a new executive, the dissolution of the Superior Council of the Judiciary and Parliament, the promulgation of laws by decrees, the adoption of a new Constitution by referendum on 25th July last and the holding of early legislative elections on 17th December.
Some Tunisian political forces see these measures as a “coup against the 2014 Constitution and the consolidation of authoritarian power”, while other forces see them as a “correction of the course of the 2011 revolution”, which overthrew the regime of then-president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (1987-2011).
