Tunisian political detainees call for unity to restore democracy
via Business News1 min read
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, several political detainees in Tunisia issued a joint letter urging democrats and civil society organizations to unite to "restore freedom and democracy" in the country. The signatories, representing various political and ideological backgrounds, believe Tunisia is at a "delicate stage in its history." They contend that measures taken on July 25, 2021, nullified the achievements of the 2010-2011 revolution and the democratic transition, specifically citing the loss of constitutional supremacy, the rule of law, separation of powers, judicial independence, public liberties, media pluralism, freedom of expression on social media, free elections supervised by an independent body, and elected institutions. The letter's authors assert that Tunisia has reverted to an "absolute personal power regime" and emphasize that restoring democratic gains is now the common priority for all democrats. They advocate for setting aside political and ideological differences until democracy and liberties are re-established. They suggest that disagreements on secondary issues or fundamental reforms can be resolved later through national dialogue and then decided by elections. The signatories, including Ahmed Néjib Chebbi, Ayachi Hammami, Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Rached Ghannouchi, Issam Chebbi, Abdelhamid Jelassi, Ridha Belhaj, Zied El Heni, Chaïma Issa, Ghazi Chaouachi, and Khayem Turki, appeal to their "democratic friends" and civil society organizations to work together to
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Tunisian Paralympic athlete Amenallah Tissaoui, a world record holder in the 1500 meters, has announced the premature end of his season due to a suspected stress reaction in his tibia. This comes shortly after he broke his own world record for the third time this season on June 22, 2026, in the United States, clocking 3 minutes 49 seconds 89. Despite his achievements, Tissaoui expressed profound disappointment and a feeling of abandonment by his federation, stating that he received no contact or recognition after his latest record-breaking performance. He also revealed that his previous world records have not been officially registered and that he has been living without financial support for several months. His American coach, Scott Simmons, has been personally covering most of his preparation expenses, including travel, nutrition, equipment, competition fees, and medical follow-ups. Tissaoui clarified that his concern is not primarily financial but rather about dignity, respect, and recognition, feeling he has been a victim of injustice and marginalization. The athlete had been suffering from persistent pain in his right leg before his last race, and medical examinations have now confirmed a potential stress injury, forcing him to rest and wear a medical boot for several weeks. He thanked his coach and online supporters, concluding that he competes for Tunisia despite feeling alone in his struggle.
The Union of Private Pharmacists of Tunisia Spot announced on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, that private pharmacies may stop accepting prescriptions covered by the National Health Insurance Fund Cnam starting July 1, if Cnam does not meet its payment commitments by the end of June. The union stated that the sector is in a "critical" professional situation, citing unpaid debts from Cnam that have made it difficult for pharmacies to supply citizens with medicines. An agreement, reached with the intervention of the Presidency of the Republic and involving the Ministers of Health and Social Affairs, aimed to clear Cnam's debts over six months, ending June 30, 2026. However, Spot claims Cnam has not honored these commitments, further burdening pharmacies already facing significant tax deadlines. Consequently, pharmacists will be forced to stop accepting Cnam-insured prescriptions from July 1, 2026, if payments are not made. The union also condemned alleged "harassment" by some municipalities regarding the removal of pharmacy signs, citing administrative circulars deemed contrary to law. They reported verbal assaults and forced entry into a pharmacy, which were brought to the attention of the President of the Republic. In response, the union plans a "national day of anger," including turning off pharmacy lights, and may pursue further protests. Additionally, Spot called for the relaunch of the Central Pharmacy's digitization project to enhance transparency and ensure equitable medicine
Mostafa Abdelkebir, president of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights OTDH, announced on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the release of four Tunisians who were part of the "Soumoud" caravan. In a Facebook post, Abdelkebir stated that two of the individuals had been detained for over a month by authorities in eastern Libya. He did not provide further details regarding their identities, the circumstances of their arrest, or the conditions of their release. This announcement follows a period with several cases involving Tunisian nationals in Libya. Last week, Abdelkebir reported that about a dozen Tunisians, including workers and travelers, were arrested in the Zaouïa region. He suggested these arrests might be connected to a case involving three Libyan nationals sought by Tunisian justice. The OTDH president had previously condemned the situation as unacceptable, arguing that the arrested Tunisians were not involved in the judicial proceedings and should not be used as "bargaining chips." He urged Libyan authorities to release them immediately and advocated for disputes between the two countries to be handled solely through judicial cooperation mechanisms.