Organisations and human rights defenders expressed solidarity with former President of the Bar Abderrazek Kilani, following his arrest on March 2 by the investigating judge at the Military Court, describing the charges against him as “vague” and calling for his immediate release.

Sixteen organisations on Sunday issued a joint statement in which they rejected the prosecution of civilians by the military justice system and the violation of public freedoms.

The signatories of the statement also underline the need to “bar the creeping dictatorship,” which threatens not only the democratic gains of Tunisians but also all organisations, parties and the judiciary in such a way as to consecrate “an authoritarian regime” and the return of dictatorship and unilateral power.

Among the signatories, the National Union of Tunisian Journalists, the Tunisian Human Rights League, the Organisation Against Torture in Tunisia and the Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights.

Human rights defenders (34 personalities) including Kamel Jendoubi, Bochra Belhaj Hmida, Naziha Rjiba (Om Zied), Bassem Trifi, Sihem Ben Sedrine and Habib Tlili also signed the statement.

The Tunis Military Court of First Instance issued a detention warrant on March 2 against Abderrazek Kilani, a member of the defence committee of MP Noureddine Bhiri.

Source: Tap News Agency