Fethi Damak sentenced to 38 years in prison in Chokri Belaïd assassination case
via Business News1 min read
A specialized criminal chamber in Tunis has sentenced businessman Fethi Damak to 38 years in prison in the case concerning the "cell for identifying, recruiting, and planning assassinations." This cell targeted journalists, magistrates, political figures, and national personalities, including the late Chokri Belaïd. The same court also issued sentences ranging from 20 to 34 years against several other defendants, including a security executive from the intelligence directorate and a member of the regional office of Ennahdha in Ben Arous. This judicial development is part of the ongoing legal proceedings related to the assassination of Chokri Belaïd, who was shot dead on February 6, 2013, in front of his home. The investigation into the case was divided into two distinct branches: one focusing on the planning, surveillance, and recruitment network, and the other on the execution of the assassination. This judicial structure had previously been detailed by the defense committee for the martyrs Chokri Belaïd and Mohamed Brahmi.
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Three years after the signing of the migration memorandum between Tunisia and the European Union, Amnesty International has stated that this cooperation model prioritized strengthening migration control over protecting the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. In a statement published on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the organization affirmed that policies implemented since the agreement's signing have been marked by numerous human rights violations. Amnesty International documented cases of arbitrary detentions, collective expulsions, violence, and racist acts related to the migration policies applied in Tunisia. Despite accumulating evidence of these violations, the European Union continued to provide financial and technical support to Tunisian authorities to reinforce migration control mechanisms. The NGO believes that reducing migrant arrivals in Europe cannot be considered a success indicator if it comes at the cost of the lives and dignity of those affected. Amnesty International also emphasized that intercepting migrants at sea should not be equated with a rescue operation when those intercepted are returned to places where they risk exposure to violence, torture, or other severe human rights violations. The organization stated that survivor testimonies show that the consequences of these policies cannot be reduced to mere migration statistics, asserting that each intercepted or expelled person is a human being whose rights must be fully respected. Amnesty
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The European Left Party has strongly condemned death threats targeting Hamma Hammami, Secretary General of the Tunisian Workers' Party, and other opposition figures. These threats followed the broadcast of a video containing violent remarks and calls for hatred. In a statement issued on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the European organization expressed full solidarity with Hamma Hammami, his family, and the Workers' Party, emphasizing that political differences do not justify intimidation or threats against political actors expressing critical views. The European Left Party urged Tunisian authorities to immediately ensure the safety of those targeted, conduct a thorough investigation into the threats' origin, and prosecute those responsible, warning that impunity fuels political violence and erodes democratic freedoms. The organization also reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of expression, political pluralism, and the right of opposition forces to operate without persecution. This reaction comes amid growing concern over the proliferation of hate speech in Tunisia's public and digital spheres. The Tunisian League for Human Rights had previously raised an alarm on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, regarding the same video, denouncing an escalation of hate speech and incitement to violence on social media. The League called for an urgent and independent criminal investigation to identify those responsible and protect the targeted individuals, including Mohamed Abbou, Ezzedine Hazgui, Samir