On Friday, July 3, 2026, the criminal chamber specializing in financial corruption cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced political opponent Khayam Turki to four years in prison. This judgment includes a financial fine and relates to several tax-related cases. This new conviction follows a previous sentence on April 20, 2026, where Khayam Turki received fourteen years in prison and a fine in a money laundering and fraud case. He was also sentenced on appeal to 45 years in prison in the "conspiracy against state security" case, along with a 100,000 dinar fine, confiscation of his assets held in Tunisian financial institutions, and five years of administrative surveillance.
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Alessandro Prunas, the Italian Ambassador to Tunisia, discussed the Tunisian-Italian economic and entrepreneurial forum on Express FM, focusing on mobility, training, and legal migration. He noted that a 2023 memorandum aimed to facilitate the entry of approximately 4,000 Tunisian workers into Italy annually for three years. Since then, the number of work visas issued has more than tripled, with over 15,000 work visas granted to date for the 2024-2026 period. Student visas have doubled, and overall legal mobility flows have nearly tripled. Prunas emphasized a shift towards "circular" mobility to prevent brain drain and promote "brain gain" by ensuring skills return to Tunisia. This involves targeted training to meet Italian labor market needs while preserving Tunisia's productive sector. He mentioned about 20 projects to create legal migration pathways, supported by approximately 15 million euros for vocational training for young Tunisians, aligning with the broader Mattei Plan for Africa. Prunas highlighted that, for the first time, regular arrivals of Tunisian citizens in Italy have significantly surpassed irregular arrivals. He views this trend reversal as crucial for worker protection, as legal entry provides social security, legal status, and access to banking, unlike irregular paths that expose individuals to exploitation. The ambassador also touched on the economic and strategic aspects of the partnership, noting the participation of over 200 Italian companies and more
The coffin of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei arrived in Tehran for an unprecedented three-day national funeral, four months after his death in an Israeli-American strike. Authorities expect 15 to 20 million participants in Tehran alone for the tribute, which begins Saturday. Khamenei's body, draped in an Iranian flag, will be displayed day and night until Monday at the Grand Mosalla complex. The walls of the complex are adorned with large portraits of Khamenei, black flags for mourning, and red flags symbolizing martyrdom and vengeance. Ahmad Vahidi, head of the Revolutionary Guards, made his first public appearance since the war to pay respects. Ali Khamenei, the longest-serving Supreme Leader since the 1979 Islamic Republic, died at 86 on February 28 during bombardments on his residence by the United States and Israel. His national funeral, initially planned for March, was postponed due to the war and is expected to be the largest in Iran's history. In 1989, approximately 10 million people attended the funeral of his predecessor, Rouhollah Khomeini. Coffins of Khamenei's family members, also killed on the first day of the war, are displayed alongside his. A procession carrying his remains will parade through Tehran on Monday before heading to the holy city of Qom on Tuesday. The presence of Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, who succeeded him as Supreme Leader in early March, has not been confirmed. Dignitaries from about 30 countries, mainly neighbors, are expected, incl
Several civil society organizations in Tunisia have issued a joint statement expressing "total solidarity" with Cin茅-Th茅芒tre Le Rio and other independent cultural spaces. This follows Le Rio's allegations of measures by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, including subsidy cuts, closure of its cafe, threats of exclusion from major cultural events, and repeated administrative controls. The signatory organizations, which include the Tunisian League for Human Rights LTDH, the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists SNJT, and the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights FTDES, believe these actions are part of a broader campaign to restrict independent spaces that host public debate, cultural activities, political discussions, and human rights advocacy. They argue that Le Rio has become a crucial venue for opposition political parties, human rights organizations, and independent cultural initiatives as other spaces for freedom diminish. The organizations view the targeting of Le Rio as an attack on fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, creation, assembly, and the right to participate in cultural life, all guaranteed by the Tunisian Constitution and international conventions. They demand an end to administrative, financial, and political pressures against independent cultural spaces and call for transparent and equitable public subsidies. They also urge national organizations, unions, artists, intellectuals, and democratic forces to mobilize in defense of th