Tunisia: Trade unionists fight back against arrests of members
Four Tunisian trade unionists were arrested on November 20 as President Kais Saied continues his brutal crackdown of dissident voices, reports Africa News.
On November 22, the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), the country’s main union, protested in Sfax as four of their officials were jailed, including the regional Secretary General, Youssef Aouadni.
Deputy Secretary General, Sami Tahri spoke at the demonstrations and noted that these arrests were politically motivated.
“Our demands are clear: the immediate release of the detainees and the examination of the cases by the competent courts,” ,Tahri said.
Despite Saied’s repeated undermining of the independence of the judiciary, the UGTT deputy added, “We have confidence in justice”.
READ: Hundreds of Tunisians demand release of Saied’s opponents
Tunisia’s President has been in power since October 2019 and has become increasingly draconian, particularly in 2021. As well as his government’s inability to solve economic and social crisises, his authoritarian ways are another reason for him facing a vote of no confidence amongst MPs.
Notably, dozens of the President’s political opponents have been arrested in recent times which prompted the families of the jailed to go to The Hague.
Saied’s controversial moves have led to distrust in the political system amongst the electorate, emphasised by the 2022 parliamentary elections where the turnout was a paltry 8.8%, the lowest in recent Tunisian history.
The UGTT said in a statement on November 21. that the arrests were an attempt to harass trade unionists and to stifle the actions of trade unions.
Africa News/ The Guardian
