In a united statement, 22 Tunisian associations have condemned some foreign countries’ continued incitement to interfere in Tunisian affairs. They have also decried the escalating attacks on journalists, accusing Ennahda of misleading public opinion.
“The undersigned Tunisian associations strongly condemn the overplayed acts of some political parties and figures, the last of which was Moncef Marzouki’s, the former President. During a demonstration in the French capital on October 9, these parties have incited foreign countries to interfere in Tunisia’s affairs and to violate its sovereignty, because of what they described as President Kais Saied’s coup against the constitution, as well as his delinquency to personalize the power. It is worth mentioning in this regard the continuous campaigns that Ennahda and its allies have carried out, and still are, to mislead and arouse the world public opinion, especially the Congress and the US administration against Tunisia,” stated in the united stament.
“The Associations warn of the danger of this incitement and consider it a disgrace on the forehead of these politicians, some of whom have participated in government since the end of 2011. Their ruling participation was characterized by upholding the partisan and personal interests, the deterioration of the political, economic and social conditions, the spread of corruption and dividing the Tunisians in an unprecedented way has not occurred since independence. The associations are shocked by these politicians’ insistence on weaving the pattern of many politicians around the world, especially in Africa and the Arab region, who in the past have sought help from European and American countries to bully their opponents, and as a result, their countries have gained nothing but losing its sovereignty and having its lands occupied, in addition to more violence and bloody conflicts, and decline in all fields,” added in the statement.
“The undersigned associations indicate in this regard that they distinguish between the right of every Tunisian to use the complaints and grievance mechanisms permitted by international and regional human rights conventions – ratified by the Tunisian state – and between resorting to bullying and calling for foreign powers to intervene directly, as these parties have been doing,” clarified in their statement.
The associations have also affirmed in their statement that they condemn the disgraceful assaults against journalists, especially those belonging to national television, and the grave threats to their safety, which were committed by participants in the demonstration against President Saied. These threats were uttered in full view and hearing from suspended representatives of the Ennahda Movement and its allies. This demonstration had been organized to condemn the suspension of some parts from the Constitution, and took place on October 10 in Bourguiba Avenue in the capital.
The associations have considered that these assaults and threats, especially for public media workers, which have not stopped since 2012, are irrefutable evidence of the carelessness that the journalists’ assailants and the leaders of their parties have against the media freedom, which is protected by the 2014 constitution. These acts against journalists also indicate to the continued fanning of hatred against the media keen to abide by the rules and ethics of the journalistic profession.
