Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, has voiced serious concerns regarding the appellate confirmation of the conviction of Anas Hmaidi, president of the Tunisian Judges' Association AMT. On Thursday, July 2, 2026, Satterthwaite stated that fundamental fair trial guarantees were not upheld in Hmaidi's case. She highlighted that the appeal was decided without Hmaidi being summoned or heard, emphasizing that everyone has the right to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal. Satterthwaite added that judges should not be penalized for defending judicial independence and believes Hmaidi's conviction should have been annulled. The criminal chamber of the Tunis Court of Appeal confirmed Hmaidi's one-year prison sentence for "obstructing freedom to work" on Wednesday, July 1, with immediate execution. A judicial source indicated that Hmaidi had appealed the initial judgment but did not appear at the hearing despite two postponements requested by his lawyers, and had reportedly left Tunisian territory. The AMT, however, disputes the procedure, asserting that their president was never properly summoned to the Court of Appeal and that a request for a further postponement for his appearance was denied. The association argues this deprived Hmaidi of his right to be present at his trial, present his defense, and fully benefit from legal assistance. They also noted that the judgment was
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Several civil society organizations in Tunisia have issued a joint statement expressing "total solidarity" with Ciné-Théâtre 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
Following the Tunisian national team's elimination from the World Cup, which led to widespread criticism of the Tunisian Football Federation FTF, initial reports suggest continuity rather than significant change within the organization. A meeting held on Monday, July 2, 2026, between the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sadok Mourali, FTF President Moez Naciri, and National Technical Director Ridha Jeddi, focused on the Federation's operations and the technical staff's future. Despite calls for the federal bureau's resignation from supporters and observers, national radio reported that the current leadership, headed by Moez Naciri, will continue its mandate. No resignation requests or revocation procedures are reportedly underway, indicating support from authorities for the current FTF management. The federal bureau is expected to meet soon to address priority issues. Regarding the national coach position, Hervé Renard, who took over temporarily after Sabri Lamouchi's dismissal during the tournament, has a contract expiring on July 15, 2026. Renard is expected to travel to Tunisia to meet with the Minister of Youth and Sports and the National Technical Director to discuss his proposed sports project and a potential continuation of his role with the Carthage Eagles. While the future coach's identity is pending confirmation, the Federation's governance appears set for immediate stability despite the World Cup outcome and calls for change.
Franco-Tunisian entrepreneur and former minister Mehdi Houas was elected president of Numeum, France's leading professional trade union for digital companies, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. He succeeds Véronique Torner for a three-year term, taking the helm of an organization that unites nearly 2,500 companies and represents 85% of the French digital sector's revenue. Houas has been a board member of Numeum for nine years and previously chaired the "Finance & Taxation" and "Industry" commissions. He also presided over the Talents du Numérique association from 2022 to 2024. Houas is the founding president of Talan, a French international consulting and technology expertise group with a presence in 22 countries and over 6,200 employees. He served as Tunisia's Minister of Trade and Tourism from January 27 to December 24, 2011, during the transitional period following the Tunisian revolution. Numeum, a member of the Syntec federation, represents digital service companies, software publishers, platforms, technology consulting firms, and major web players. It federates nearly 2,500 member companies, generating 85% of the sector's total revenue, which amounts to 70 billion euros and employs 670,000 people in France. Numeum is a key interlocutor for French public authorities on digital issues, addressing competitiveness, innovation, taxation, training, digital transition, artificial intelligence, and technological sovereignty. Under Houas's mandate, Numeum aims to strengthen the sector'