8 Tunisian Political Parties Demand Cancellation of "Decree 54"

Eight opposition parties in Tunisia condemned the detentions of journalists and lawyers, calling for their release and the annulment of "Decree No. 54" related to combating crimes associated with information and communication systems. These parties stated in a joint statement issued on Monday that the "storming of the lawyers' house twice is a serious indication of the government's reliance solely on security measures and the intimidation of anyone opposing its policies." They noted that the return of what they termed "torture practices" against opponents signals the depth of the political crisis faced by the ruling authorities. They highlighted that "what happened to lawyer Mahdi Zagrouba is evidence of the return of violent security dealings by the authorities with their opponents and critics." Additionally, they expressed their full solidarity with the legal profession in its struggle to defend its independence and ensure the administration of justice.