Tunisian justice: Slowdown that serves Ennahda and puts president in crosshairs

Amid the widening wave of criticism against Tunisian President Kais Saied by his supporters against the backdrop of the slowdown in the reform movement initiated by Tunisia since July 25, 2021, the Tunisian president took a decision to dissolve the Supreme Judicial Council, which is concerned with ensuring the independence of the judiciary and is based on monitoring the progress of the work of judges.

Resentful statements

Saied preceded this decision with a series of resentful statements, which he called “the slow course of justice in important files” that remained on the shelves for many years. Since the president announced his decisions on July 25, according to which he froze the parliament, Tunisians have placed hopes on Saied to open the files of the silent corruption and resolve the files that the Tunisian street has long talked about, including political assassinations and financial and administrative corruption.

No movement

After more than six months passed without any movement in these files, voices began to rise to attack Saied, which translated directly to the dissolution of the Supreme Judicial Council.

With this decision, Tunisia is awaiting urgent moves in files such as the killing of leftist Tunisian politicians Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi, whose defense committee confirms the involvement of the Ennahda movement in their killing. The judiciary is accused of covering up for Ennahda and disrupting the course of the case.

At the same time, it is expected to move seriously in the file of the mysterious death of Tunisian police officer Mohsen al-Adili, who was found hanging by a rope in his house, which those close to Adili consider to be an assassination, not a suicide, and they accused Ennahda.

Secret behind slowdown

Tunisian political writer Nizar Al-Jledi told the Reference that the Ennahda movement has succeeded over the past ten years in creating a presence in the various Tunisian administrations. It is not excluded that the movement is behind the slow progress of the files threatening it.

Jledi described the Tunisian administration's move in the Adili file as less than average, hoping that the state would move according to the event, in which it appears to be a quasi-political assassination.

What awaits Ennahda?

The Ennahda movement is the party most affected by the decision to dissolve the Supreme Judicial Council, as the movement has several files, all of which lead to the dissolution and imprisonment of its leaders.

In addition to the file of political assassinations, the issue of deporting Tunisians to conflict sites is to be resolved. If these accusations are true, Ennahda will be primarily responsible for Tunisia's advent on the list of countries exporting terrorists during the last ten years, which may necessitate its dissolution.

At the same time, Ennahda faces accusations of receiving foreign funds during the last legislative elections in 2019, and the movement has several suspicious relations with regional and non-regional countries linked to the Brotherhood.

Opponents of Ennahda consider that the movement is working in Tunisia in favor of Brotherhood goals and not out of Tunisian nationalism. They cite its position in support of the armed militias that controlled the Libyan capital until recently, which showed Tunisia as a country on the side of terrorism and extremist groups.