By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A Tunisian court on Wednesday annulled the dismissal of 50 judges in June by the country’s President, Kais Saied, with several NGOs describing the President’s action as an “attack on the rule of law”.
President Saied who had taken over powers a year ago in June dismissed 57 judges, using presidential decree, accusing them of corruption and obstructing several investigations.
53 judges, some of whom were accused of “adultery”, had filed appeals with the administrative court.
The administrative court spokesman Imed Ghabri announced the suspension of the dismissal, but did not disclose how many judges the action of the court covers.
A legal practitioner, Kamel Ben Messoud, from the defence committee of the dismissed judges, said that the suspension concerns “about 50 judges” who, according to him, will be able to resume their functions as soon as they receive a copy of the verdict.
The other magistrates, who are facing criminal charges, have not benefited from the suspension decision, Ben Messoud told local media.
The administrative court said it would publish its decision later, without giving further details.
The dismissal of these magistrates had attracted condemnation by several NGOs, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, as a “direct attack on the rule of law” and had led to more than a month’s well-attended strike by magistrates.
Since 25 July 2021, Mr. Saied has been acting in the interest of the country, which he considers ungovernable, and has concentrated all powers, raising fears of an autocratic drift in the cradle of the Arab Spring.
