Maghreb Edition

Tunisia’s Opposition Faces Mounting Legal PressureF

Posted On 25 February 2025

Number of times this article was read : 5300

Government actions against opposition figures continue to dominate the political landscape in Tunisia. This week and after accusing the Organization for the Defense of Beliefs and the Fight Against Extremism of acting as an extension of Islamist movements and receiving foreign funding, the leader of the Free Destourian Party (PDL), Abir Moussi, was fined her 500 dinars for defamation by the Tunis Court of First Instance. Members of the PDL party and the broader opposition world see this ruling and other similar court decisions as attacks against the opposition. ruled against Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Destourian Party (PDL), in a defamation case.

Meanwhile, the Ennahdha movement, an conservative opposition party, reiterated its demand for the release of all political detainees. The party called for an end to legal proceedings against figures such as Sihem Bensedrine, Mohamed Boughalleb, and Riadh Mouakhar. Ennahdha stated that the political climate requires a return to legal norms and the protection of individual and collective freedoms.

Also this week, the detention of Lotfi Mraihi, leader of the Popular Republican Union (UPR), was extended by four months. Mraihi has been in custody since July 2024 on charges related to unauthorized foreign bank accounts. Authorities have not provided further details on the ongoing investigation.

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The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.