Tunisian judges on Strike
The Tunisian judges went on open strike yesterday "until the Minister of Justice reconsiderzs its decision to revoke 81 magistrates' and replaces it with judgments."
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tunisian-judges...
The decision was announced in a statement of the Union of Tunisian Judges, and was confirmed by the union president, Raoudha Laâbidi, in a statement to TAP reported by La Presse newspaper.
"The dismissal of judges is contrary to the foundations of transitional justice that require people to reveal the truth and judge those who have violated human rights, while ensuring fair trials, and especially the right to defense," the statement said.
The decision to strike follows a meeting of magistrates at the court house, called by their union, in order to respond to the decision of Justice Minister, Noureddine Bhiri, revoke 81 judges accused of corruption and of being involved with the former regime. Ms. Laâbidi said to TAP that "trade union members and many members of the Association of Tunisian Judges supported the decision of the general strike of the magistrates, throughout the Republic."
She said that to "defend the independence of the judiciary vis-à-vis the executive is a matter of principle affecting all judges and all structures that represent them."
Moreover, the union opposes the plan presented by the Department of Justice, establishing an interim authority of the judiciary to replace the Supreme Judicial Council. "This project establishes the domination of the executive over the judiciary and aims to provide reservations to the Minister of Justice, only the power to decide on judicial appointments," the statement said.
The Union of Judges said its members - who include judges at all levels of the justice system - would strike until their sacked colleagues were reinstated, effectively bringing Tunisia's justice system to a standstill.
The Justice Ministry said it would stand its ground."The decision (to sack the 81 judges) is among the tasks of the ministry," said Fadel Sayhi, the minister's chief of staff."We will not retreat ... because cleaning up the justice system is one of the demands of the revolution." Reuters reported.
The lawyers gathered at the courthouse were again called to expedite the promulgation of the Law on the provisional instance, by focusing on the Constituent Assembly the responsibility of the situation facing the industry today.
"The dismissal of judges is contrary to the foundations of transitional justice that require people to reveal the truth and judge those who have violated human rights, while ensuring fair trials, and especially the right to defense," the statement said.
The decision to strike follows a meeting of magistrates at the court house, called by their union, in order to respond to the decision of Justice Minister, Noureddine Bhiri, revoke 81 judges accused of corruption and of being involved with the former regime. Ms. Laâbidi said to TAP that "trade union members and many members of the Association of Tunisian Judges supported the decision of the general strike of the magistrates, throughout the Republic."
She said that to "defend the independence of the judiciary vis-à-vis the executive is a matter of principle affecting all judges and all structures that represent them."
Moreover, the union opposes the plan presented by the Department of Justice, establishing an interim authority of the judiciary to replace the Supreme Judicial Council. "This project establishes the domination of the executive over the judiciary and aims to provide reservations to the Minister of Justice, only the power to decide on judicial appointments," the statement said.
The Union of Judges said its members - who include judges at all levels of the justice system - would strike until their sacked colleagues were reinstated, effectively bringing Tunisia's justice system to a standstill.
The Justice Ministry said it would stand its ground."The decision (to sack the 81 judges) is among the tasks of the ministry," said Fadel Sayhi, the minister's chief of staff."We will not retreat ... because cleaning up the justice system is one of the demands of the revolution." Reuters reported.
The lawyers gathered at the courthouse were again called to expedite the promulgation of the Law on the provisional instance, by focusing on the Constituent Assembly the responsibility of the situation facing the industry today.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tunisian-judges...