Mohamed Abbou calls for boycott of political trials, urges accused and lawyers to challenge legitimacy
via Business News3 min read
Former minister and lawyer Mohamed Abbou issued a call on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, for individuals facing politically motivated cases to boycott their trials. In a social media message, he argued that the legitimacy of these proceedings should no longer be recognized, urging the accused to refuse to appear in court and their lawyers to cease defending the merits of the cases. This stance follows the conviction of journalist Zied El Heni, whose health reportedly deteriorated during his transfer to court. Abbou revealed that El Heni had asked him not to publicly discuss his illness, a wish respected by his family. However, Abbou stated that the issue is now El Heni's significant exhaustion after arriving at court around 2 PM in the heat, following a prison transport with poor conditions. His lawyer noted extreme fatigue and speech difficulties before his family visit. Abbou also mentioned El Heni suffers from high blood pressure. Regarding a land regularization case in Carthage, where El Heni served on the special municipal delegation, Abbou asserted that no evidence shows El Heni personally approved the regularization or sale. He also recalled that El Heni had insisted his lawyers fully defend him in another case concerning "harm to others," which arose from his revelations about an arrest leading to an officer's death and a journalist's three-and-a-half-year imprisonment before acquittal. Based on these observations, Abbou believes a new strategy is needed for political trials
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Must ReadMehrez Ghannouchi, a popular Tunisian weather presenter, has called for the public execution and broadcast of the death sentence handed down to the main accused in the murder of a taxi driver in Kram. Ghannouchi, who has thousands of followers on Facebook, stated that such an execution should serve as a lesson to criminals. His post garnered thousands of positive reactions and approving comments. While Tunisia retains the death penalty in its penal code, no executions have been carried out since 1991, with the country observing a de facto moratorium for over three decades. However, recent high-profile cases have reignited calls for the resumption of executions. The article highlights the significant difference between supporting capital punishment and advocating for public executions as a spectacle, a practice historically associated with authoritarian regimes. It notes that Ghannouchi's influence, stemming from his credibility in meteorology, amplifies such radical statements. This is not his first controversial remark, as he previously described Hurricane Milton as a "divine punishment." The author argues that social media platforms amplify immediate emotions like anger and the desire for punishment, turning calls for public, filmed hangings into content that generates approval and visibility, despite justice not being intended to organize spectacles of death.
Must ReadBusinessman Habib Haouas was sentenced to 22 years in prison on June 30, 2026, for charges including alleged organized money laundering, abusive exploitation of social activity mechanisms, and property damage. Other defendants in the case received 24-year sentences from the Tunis Court of First Instance. This sentencing occurred despite a definitive reconciliation agreement, valued at approximately 12 million dinars, reached between Haouas and the Directorate General of Customs on June 22, 2026. Haouas's lawyers had informed the court of this agreement and requested time to provide official documentation. Haouas had been engaged in a penal reconciliation process with customs for several months, covering financial adjustments and penalties. The case dates back several years, with an arrest warrant issued against Haouas on November 17, 2023. Haouas has reportedly resided abroad since at least 2017. He is known for having led SOREAL Tunisie, a company founded in 1997 specializing in metal refining, grinding, recycling, and transformation.
The Tunisian Federation of Artisans and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises FTAPME has once again voiced its concern over persistent payment delays from public companies and institutions to their suppliers. In a statement released on Monday, June 29, 2026, the federation highlighted that these delays are severely impacting the cash flow of SMEs, despite services being rendered and contractual procedures followed. The FTAPME warns that this situation could lead to an increase in bankruptcies, job losses, and a further weakening of the national economy. The federation notes that these delays are no longer mere administrative malfunctions but rather a breach of contractual commitments by public bodies, depriving businesses of necessary liquidity. This compromises their ability to meet current obligations such as paying salaries, social contributions, taxes, and bank maturities. Unlike large corporations, SMEs often lack significant financial reserves to absorb such delays, making it difficult to finance their working capital, especially with limited access to bank credit. The FTAPME emphasizes that artisans and SMEs should not be forced to finance public companies while awaiting payment. The federation considers it unacceptable for SMEs to bear the consequences of administrative delays or financial difficulties faced by public entities, especially when the state continues to demand strict adherence to fiscal, social, and regulatory obligations from them. To address this critical