Nine former bar presidents denounce excessive use of detention warrants
via Business News2 min read
The Council of former Bar Presidents of the National Bar Association strongly criticized the use of detention warrants, calling it an infringement on individual liberties. In a statement released on Thursday, April 16, 2026, the Council, convened by Bar President Boubaker Bethabet, reacted to a detention warrant issued against former Bar President Chawki Tabib. The signatories noted that this decision was made without a prior hearing for Tabib or communication of investigation details, despite his voluntary appearance before the investigating judge. The statement was signed by Bar President Boubaker Bethabet and eight former bar presidents: Lazhar Karoui Chebbi, Bechir Essid, Abdelwahab El Behi, Mohamed Fadhel Mahfoudh, Abdeljelil Bouraoui, Abdessettar Ben Moussa, Hatem Mzioui, and Abderrazak Kilani. Former Bar Presidents Ameur Mehrezi, currently under a travel ban, and Brahim Bouderbala, now President of Parliament, were not among the signatories. The former bar presidents believe the conditions surrounding this decision violate fundamental procedural guarantees, citing a lack of legal and factual justification and non-compliance with summons procedures. They emphasized that the presumption of innocence, the right to defense, and the right to a fair trial are constitutional principles that an independent and impartial justice system must uphold. They denounced what they termed the "laxity" of some jurisdictions in issuing detention warrants, arguing that these measures are s
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