On 13 February, Tunisian security forces arrested former Justice Minister Noureddine Bhiri and leader of Ennahdha opposition party after they raided his house in Tunis. A judge questioned Noureddine Bhiri the following day over critical public remarks he had made, accusing him of seeking to “change the form of government” On the same day, a judge ordered his detention. Noureddine Bhiri has since been held in pretrial detention. On 30 August, an Accusation Chamber of the Tunis Appeal Court referred his case to an investigating judge of the Tunis First Instance Court to confirm evidence against him. He has not yet been formally indicted or referred to trial. The Tunisian authorities must immediately release Noureddine Bhiri and drop the bogus charges against him as they are based solely on the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
Index Number: MDE 30/7257/2023