Tunisia judges extend strike

20 June 2022

Tunisian judges have extended their national strike for a third week in protest against what they call President Kais Saied’s “interference” in the judiciary, as the president has tightened his grip on power since freezing parliament last July.

Saied dismissed 57 judges on June 1, accusing them of corruption and protecting “terrorists” – charges the Tunisian Judges’ Association said were mostly politically motivated.

Judges suspended their work in courts on June 4 and said the president’s decisions were designed to control the judiciary and use it against his political opponents

He said members of judges had decided to stage a hunger strike against the decision to dismiss them. Another judge, Hamadi Rahmani, confirmed. Four judges’ unions called for strike in the wake of the mass sackings on June 1.