TUNIS: In a step the opposition believes may open the door for the release of other imprisoned opponents, a Tunisian court on Monday ordered the release of well-known attorney Ahmed Souab, a harsh critic of President Kais Saied, according to his family. After being arrested and imprisoned last year, Souab had been serving a five-year jail sentence.
During a hearing on Monday, the court did not provide an explanation for its ruling. According to Souab’s family and attorneys, he has been dealing with health issues lately.Mongi, Souab’s brother, told Reuters, This is very good news, and we hope it will be followed by the release of all unjustly imprisoned detainees. We’re en route to the prison to await his release.
Political parties and civil society organizations were deeply incensed by Souab’s detention, which they perceived as a risky intensification of the crackdown on dissent and a further solidification of authoritarianism in Tunisia.
Retired administrative judge and attorney Souab has repeatedly stated that Saied has weakened the judiciary’s independence. He claimed last year that judges were being pressured “with a knife to their heads” and that the judiciary had been ruined. Authorities detained him on terrorism-related charges after determining that his remarks were a threat to the judges.
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