Category: Key Issues

Tunis: The arrest warrant issued by the first investigating judge of the Tunis Court of First Instance against Sonia Dahmani was executed on Saturday evening, said spokesperson for the Tunis Court of First Instance, Mohamed Zitouna.

In a statement to TAP, Zitouna added that “the public prosecutor’s office wishes to clarify that the (law enforcement) officers in charge of the execution of the warrant executed it on the grounds of the good application of the law and the efficiency of the ongoing investigations,” he said, stressing that “all legal procedures were respected.

Zitouna pointed out that the case against Dahmani, who he said was “on the run”, had nothing to do with her work as a lawyer.

On the other hand, Zitouna explained that Borhen Bssais and Mourad Zeghidi are currently being investigated by a national brigade under the supervision of the public prosecutor at the Court of First Instance in Tunis. The results of the investigations and developments will be communicated later.

Lawyer Sonia Dahman
i was taken away from a sit-in at the lawyer’s house, in execution of the arrest warrant.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shi’a Al Sudani received on Saturday in Baghdad Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar, expressing Iraq’s support for Tunisia and its willingness to strengthen various aspects of cooperation.

He praised the organisation of the Tunisian-Iraqi Business Forum, which ‘will provide an opportunity to establish partnerships between private sector businessmen in a number of promising fields,’ according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Iraqi Prime Minister stressed the need to strengthen the ‘historical brotherly relations’ between the two peoples and countries, expressing his determination to enhance cooperation with Tunisia in various fields.

“The meeting reflected the harmony and congruence of the two countries’ positions and views on various issues”.

In this context, Al Sudain praised the Tunisian position in support of the just Palestinian cause, stressing the need to intensify consultations and further coordinate posi
tions between the two countries in various regional and international forums, according to the same statement.

For his part, Nabil Ammar reviewed with his host the comprehensive reform path pursued by Tunisia to consolidate its stability and ensure economic recovery.

He highlighted the major economic reforms and measures taken to improve the business climate, which offer real opportunities to boost economic cooperation with various partners, first and foremost the Republic of Iraq.

Nabil Ammar also conveyed to the Iraqi Prime Minister the greetings of President Kais Saied and Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani and their keenness to further strengthen the relations of brotherhood and cooperation between the two peoples and countries.

Both sides highlighted the holding of the 17th session of the Tunisian-Iraqi Joint Commission and expressed the hope that it will achieve a qualitative leap in bilateral cooperation relations by overcoming all difficulties and finding appropriate formulas to increase the pace of tra
de and work to boost cooperation in various fields. These include tourism, air transport, the pharmaceutical industry, higher education and scientific research.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq Fuad Hussein, on Saturday, co-chaired the opening of the Tunisian-Iraqi Business Forum, on the 17th session of the Tunisian-Iraqi Joint Committee held in Baghdad.

The President of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA) and the President of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce, along with a number of business actors from the private sector in both countries attended the event, according to a Ministry press release.

Minister Ammar highlighted in his speech that the organisation of this forum reflects the great importance that the governments of the two countries attach to the private sector as an essential source to support the process of cooperation between them in various fields of trade and investment.

He also reviewed the most important reforms and initiatives adopted by Tunisia to improve the business climate, encourage en
trepreneurship and stimulate investment in promising and innovative sectors.

He stressed Tunisia’s keenness to provide all the necessary facilities and encouragement to ensure the success of projects and investments in various sectors.

The Minister praised the availability of real opportunities to establish new mutually beneficial partnerships that serve the strategic development goals in the two countries. He called for lifting all obstacles that would hinder the development of trade between the two sides.

Minister Ammar stressed the importance of developing the appropriate framework to motivate businessmen in the two countries to take the initiative and establish partnerships and joint projects that contribute to the expected qualitative leap in the cadence and volume of bilateral exchanges.

In his speech, the Iraqi Minister stressed the keenness of his government and its readiness to provide all support and facilities to establish a suitable environment for businessmen for the two countries. The Iraqi
side is looking forward to the presence of Tunisian companies in Iraq and their participation in a number of important projects, events and exhibitions.

The UTICA president and the president of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce both highlighted the promising opportunities offered by the business climate in the two countries and stimulating partnerships in various fields.

Bilateral meetings were also held between the both countries’ business delegations and focused on enhancing cooperation and partnership in a number of fields and sectors such as food industries, electricity, renewable energies, contracting and handicrafts.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein Saturday had a working session in Baghdad.

This working session took place on the sidelines of the 17th session of the Tunisian-Iraqi Joint Commission.

The two ministers expressed hope to “achieve the expected qualitative leap in bilateral cooperation relations,” reads a Foreign Ministry press release.

The need for “closer cooperation in security and sharing expertise and experiences” in counter terrorism, violent extremism and irregular migration” was likewise emphasised. They also agreed to identify adequate approaches to promoting trade.

Ammar and Hussein urged greater cooperation in several promising fields, such as tourism, air transport, the pharmaceutical industry, higher education and culture.

They laid emphasis on the convergence of positions on a number of issues of common interest, notably the Palestinian cause.

The two ministers praised t
he long-standing fraternal ties binding Tunisia and Iraq and voiced keenness to further scale up cooperation relations, based on the sincere will of the leaders of the two countries and their firm determination to take them to the level of an effective partnership that benefits the two brotherly peoples.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Almost 2,500 sub-Saharan Africans had voluntarily returned to their countries since the start of the year, the Directorate General of the National Guard said Saturday.

Several undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants have turned to police and National Guard for help from migration organisations operating in Tunisia for repatriation, read a National Guard press release.

Coordination was established with diplomatic representations of migrants and a strategic plan was put in place to ensure their return to their countries of origin, including a flight last May 9 to an African country with 166 undocumented migrants on board.

The voluntary return of migrants is carried out in 3 stages: reception by law-enforcement personnel, registration of volunteers then contact with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to facilitate their return, and finally coordination with the border police to set flight times.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Two people have been taken into custody for harbouring undocumented foreigners, the Directorate General of the National Guard said in a statement on Wednesday.

Raids were carried out on four houses in Bekalta and Bennane, Monastir governorate, where 24 people of sub-Saharan origin were arrested for being in Tunisia illegally, the same source said.

According to another press release from the National Guard, five attempts to illegally cross the sea border were foiled and a large number of illegal migrants were rescued.

This is part of a ‘security operation to combat illegal migration in the central district of the Coast Guard and the regional district of the National Guard in Sfax, according to the same source.

Fifteen wanted migrant smugglers and middlemen were also arrested, it said.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: President Kais Saied reaffirmed Tunisia’s keenness to further consolidate and diversify Tunisian-Bahraini cooperation relations in various fields and to overcome difficulties that could hinder the implementation of some Bahraini projects and investments in Tunisia during his meeting with Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani at Carthage Palace on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the Head of State was also briefed on the ongoing preparations for the organisation of the forthcoming Arab Summit in Manama.

He commended the efforts being made to ensure that the summit takes place in the best conditions and leads to results that meet the aspirations of the peoples of the region.

The Head of State stressed Tunisia’s readiness to continue its active contribution to the development of a joint Arab action, according to a statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic.

The meeting was also an opportunity for the President of the Republic to address the Palestinian issue
.

He reiterated Tunisia’s firm and constant support for the Palestinian people in their struggle against the unprecedented aggression against them and its full support for their legitimate aspirations to regain their inalienable rights and establish their independent and fully sovereign state on all Palestinian territory with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

For his part, the Bahraini Foreign Minister conveyed to the President of the Republic the greetings of the Bahraini leadership, wishing Tunisia further progress and development.

He gave an account of the preparations for the Arab Summit in Manama and the ongoing consultations at various levels to crystallise initiatives in various fields to serve common Arab interests and unite efforts to face the current challenges.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The “Alliance against Torture” was launched on Wednesday by civil society organisations on the occasion of the National Day against Torture and in memory of Nabil Barakati, who died under torture at a police station in GaSfour (Siliana) on May 8, 1987.

Oussama Bouajila, representative of the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) in Tunis and coordinator of the coalition, said at a press conference held at the headquarters of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) to present the coalition that the Alliance against Torture would provide its expertise in the fight against and prevention of torture.

Human rights organisations and associations are once again calling for the amendment of Article 101a of the Penal Code on the crime of torture, “as it contains several loopholes and is one of the causes of the persistence of the phenomenon of impunity”, he added.

According to Article 101a of the Penal Code, torture is any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is in
tentionally inflicted on a person for the purpose of obtaining from that person or another person information or a confession to an act that that person or another person has committed or is suspected of having committed. A public official or equivalent who, in the exercise of his functions or on the occasion of the exercise of his functions, orders, incites, approves or remains silent about torture shall be considered a torturer.

Bouajila pointed out that this article is not in line with the provisions of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the “Torture Convention”), which was adopted by the Tunisian government in 1988.

There was a need to redefine the crime of torture to make it more comprehensive, he said.

Taking the floor, Mohamed Mzem, Executive Director of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), said that the coalition was open to all civil society components and all those who wish to join, pointing out that the fight against torture has
developed from a legislative point of view since the revolution, with the creation of the National Authority for the Prevention of Torture (INPT).

The Alliance Against Torture includes the LTDH, the OMCT, the Tunisian Association for Justice and Equality “DAMJ” and the Association of the Generation Against Marginalisation (GAM).

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Thursday, May 9 will be the first day of the month of Dhu al-Qidah in the year 1445 of the Hijri calendar, Mufti of the Republic Hichem Ben Mahmoud announced on Wednesday evening.

Dhu al-Qidah is the eleventh month of the Hijri calendar.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Tunisia has called on “all free people of the world to stand united against the genocidal war and forced displacement waged by the Zionist occupation forces against the Palestinian people,” according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad issued Wednesday.

It urged all countries of the world to ‘stop this massacre immediately,’ especially as the occupying entity is preparing to commit a ‘major massacre’ under the eyes of the world, against more than one and a half million Palestinians in the city of Rafah, and continues its arrogance and criminality in blatant defiance of international law and humanitarian law.

Tunisia reiterated its unconditional support for the Palestinian people in their struggle to recover their legitimate, inalienable and imprescriptible rights.

It reaffirmed its firm position in favour of the Palestinian brothers, in order to establish their fully sovereign state on all the land of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

The Zionist occupation army penetrated the Rafah land crossing, amid heavy fire on its buildings, and occupied it completely and prevented the movement of travellers, especially the sick and wounded.

It also prevented the entry of humanitarian aid or the transfer of aid.

According to media reports, 21 Palestinians, including children and women, were martyred on Tuesday as a result of the Zionist occupation forces’ shelling of different areas in the Gaza Strip.

Most of the martyrs came from the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, whose border crossing is considered the lifeline for the residents of Gaza and the only land gateway for the entry of aid and the evacuation of the injured.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse