Iran held a large prayer service in Tehran on Sunday, July 5, 2026, marking the second day of national mourning for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While most senior Iranian officials attended, his son and designated successor as Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was notably absent and has not yet appeared publicly. The religious ceremony, led by Ayatollah Ja’far Sobhani, a prominent 97-year-old Shiite cleric from Qom, lasted about ten minutes. Among those present around the coffin in the Great Mosalla complex were President Massoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and General Esmaïl Qaani, commander of the Quds Force. The head of the Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi, also made a public appearance after being discreet since the start of the war between Iran, Israel, and the United States on February 28. State television showed three of Ali Khamenei's other sons—Massoud, Mostafa, and Meysam—attending. Mojtaba Khamenei, who was reportedly injured in the Israeli-American bombings that killed his father on the first day of the conflict, has communicated only through official statements since his designation. Former presidents Mohammad Khatami, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Hassan Rohani, who had strained relations with the late Supreme Leader, were also absent. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf praised the gathering on social media platform X, calling it a tribute from the "proud and invincible nation of Islamic Iran" to its "martyr." Ali Khamenei's coffin,
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The family of Lotfi Mraïhi, president of the Popular Republican Union UPR and former presidential candidate, has released a video two years after his arrest, describing him as a "political prisoner" and a "detainee for freedom of expression." The video features his mother, wife, children, and associates, who share emotional testimonies about his incarceration. His mother expressed her longing to embrace him, while his wife spoke of the psychological toll on the family, emphasizing that Mraïhi, a doctor, committed no crime but engaged in politics to help the country. His relatives view his imprisonment as a political maneuver to remove him from political activity and prevent his participation in elections, claiming that opponents are being neutralized through state means. They also recounted a forceful night-time search of their home during his arrest, which his mother said caused her to lose consciousness and led to a decline in her heart health. Despite the ordeal, the family remains supportive and proud of Mraïhi for speaking his mind. The video concludes with a statement attributed to Mraïhi from his cell, where he expresses no regret or bitterness about his political commitment and urges supporters to continue their engagement. This video, released on the second anniversary of his detention, aims to highlight the human and political dimensions of his case, portraying him as a victim of his views, an accusation consistently denied by Tunisian authorities.
Twenty-five deputies in Tunisia have introduced a new bill aimed at progressively eliminating single-use plastic bags, addressing the widespread environmental pollution caused by plastic waste. The proposed legislation, comprising seven chapters and 23 articles, outlines a specific timeline for reducing disposable plastic bag use and promoting sustainable alternatives. It targets manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers. Under the proposal, businesses would be prohibited from distributing or selling single-use plastic bags at checkouts upon the law's enactment. Manufacturers and importers would have a maximum of twelve months after the law's publication to cease production, import, and marketing of these bags, including those used for packaging food and bulk goods. Only reusable, biodegradable, or bio-sourced bags meeting specific standards would be permitted. To prevent the replacement of traditional plastic with unverified "green" products, the bill sets strict criteria for alternatives. Biodegradable bags must decompose by 90% within six months in an industrial facility or twelve months in a domestic environment without producing microplastics, and must comply with international standards like EN 13432. Reusable bags would need to have a minimum thickness of 50 microns, a load capacity of at least ten kilograms, a minimum lifespan of twenty uses, and specific labeling. Enhanced control mechanisms are also included, requiring businesses to obtain conformity cer
An open letter from former MP Majdi Ben Khiareddine Boudhina to Abir Moussi, the detained president of Tunisia's Free Destourian Party PDL, urges her to forgo a third term as party leader. Boudhina argues that a party criticizing a potential third presidential term for Kaïs Saïed should uphold internal rules limiting terms for its own leadership, drawing parallels to the long presidencies of Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The letter also advocates for revising the party's internal regulations to promote generational renewal and calls for the PDL to focus more on Tunisians' economic and social concerns, such as purchasing power and employment, rather than what he terms political or elitist debates. Boudhina states he is prepared to leave party bodies himself as part of this renewal, emphasizing he seeks no position. The letter has reportedly been met with mixed reactions within the PDL, with some members viewing it as ill-timed given Moussi's detention and the party's focus on her release. However, it has brought to light internal debates within the PDL regarding governance and succession ahead of its upcoming congress.