The Tunisian Justice will not yield to pressure,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad stressed on Wednesday in the light of comments and statements recently published by some of Tunisia’s “partners. Tunisia – which fully respects the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of countries – reminds those (countries) who were not “concerned” by the results of these “irresponsible” and “dangerous” statements that “the laws of the Tunisian Republic apply to all litigants equally and without any discrimination,” the Foreign Affairs Department added in a statement. “Justice is applied fairly and with wisdom. The wave of “unacceptable” comments and statements will have no impact on the progress of the trials,” the Foreign Affairs Department assured. For the ministry, such statements could have a negative impact on the intensive efforts made by the state to resolve the economic and financial crisis, “caused by bad governance and amateurism that have characterized the last decade. Furthermore, the ministry considered it “essential” to revive the national economy, calling for taking advantage of the extremely important economic opportunities that the country has to offer. Tunisia’s partner countries have issued statements and positions against the backdrop of the arrest of the leaders of Ennahdha movement, including its leader, Rached Ghannouchi. Earlier in the day, the investigating judge at the Tunis Court of First Instance began interrogating Rached Ghannouchi and those arrested with him, according to lawyer Monia Bouali, a member of the Defence Collective. According to the lawyer, reached by telephone by TAP, an investigation has been opened against suspects including Rached Ghannouchi for charges of “plotting against state security” on the basis of Articles 68 and 72 of the Penal Code. Ennahdha president, Rached Ghannouchi, was arrested following a detention warrant issued against him by the public prosecutor’s office at the judicial counter-terrorism division, an official of the Interior Ministry told TAP. He will remain at the disposal of the investigation in a case of ” inflammatory statements “. The security unit, which arrested Rached Ghannouchi, searched his home and seized everything that could be used in the investigation. In a statement issued last Monday evening, Ennahdha movement called for the immediate release of its president Rached Ghannouchi who was arrested and taken “to an unknown location”. The party denounced a serious escalation and called for the cessation of all proceedings against political opponents.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP)