Amnesty: Tunisian authorities must end erosion of judicial independence

Two years after summary dismissal of judges by the president, harassment, prosecutions and denial of rights of judges continue in Tunisia. That’s according to a new report out by Amnesty International which also condemns Tunisia’s ongoing “erosion of judicial independence in the country”. It is the two year anniversary since  President Kais Saied granted himself powers to unilaterally dismiss judges.

On 1 June 2022, President Saied issued Decree-Law 2022-35, which allowed him to dismiss any judge based on vague criteria and without due process. On the same day, he announced the dismissal of 57 judges and prosecutors, accusing the judges of obstructing terrorism-related investigations, financial corruption, “moral corruption,” and “adultery” including senior judges and prosecutors.