Tunisia Roundup: Undocumented immigrants, death sentences, journalist on trial
Tunisia rescues 1,335 undocumented immigrants
Tunisia's maritime guards have rescued 1,335 undocumented immigrants from sinking boats and foiled 31 illegal immigration attempts in the past 24 hours. The operations involved arresting eight organisers and seizing 14 steel boats. according to a statement released on April 4. Measures against the immigrants will be taken after consultation with the public prosecutor's office, Xinhua reported.
Four sentenced to death for 2013 assassination
A Tunisian court has sentenced four people to death and two to life in prison for participating in the murder of political leader Chokri Belaid 11 years ago, Reuters reported on March 27. Belaid, a leftist politician, was shot dead by gunmen in his car in February 2013. The assassination shocked Tunisia and sparked violent protests following the Arab Spring in 2011. The jihadist Ansar Al-Sharia, an organisation classified as a "terrorist group" by the North African government, was involved in the assassination.
Trial of prominent journalist
Mohamed Boughalleb, a prominent Tunisian journalist, was put under pre-trial detention following a March 26 court hearing where he discussed corruption and the misuse of public funds by ministers and public institutions. Boughalleb's arrest came four days after he was arrested in Tunis on suspicion of insulting a public official on social media. His trial is scheduled for April and could lead to a two to four-year sentence, his lawyer disclosed to the Associated Press. The National Journalist Syndicate president of Tunisia, Zied Dabbar, condemned Boughalleb's apprehension, citing it as proof of how widespread the country's pursuit of journalists has grown. He added that eight journalists are on trial right now. "We can not produce on-demand journalism that conforms to the desires of those in power. What should a journalist do when he learns that a minister travels using public funds with a civil servant who didn't professionally have to be there? Must he keep quiet and not reveal the scandal? " Dabbar said.
Trafficking of illicit waste toward Tunisia
An investigation by the Financial Police, Customs and Monopolies Agency, and the Regional Agency for the environmental protection of Tuscany, Italy revealed a container bound for Tunisia supposed to contain textile waste was carrying undeclared waste, including plastic materials, leather, and household appliance waste. According to Nova News, further examination into three other containers with similar characteristics, including discarded clothes, old household appliances, shoes, and toys. The criminal investigation resulted in the seizure of 82,5 tons of mixed waste was confirmed by the Italian authorities.
Foreign student leader released
Christian Kwongang, former president of the Association of African Students and Interns in Tunisia (AESAT), has been released from Tunisian authorities. Kwongang, a Cameroonian, was arrested in the North African nation on March 19 and released on March 29. He was accused of violating Tunisian law and undermining public order. Kwongang was questioned about his activities following President Kais Saied's divisive speech last year in which he criticised a wave of undocumented immigrants as a demographic threat, the Students' Union claimed.
