Late on Wednesday, a number of Tunisian parliament members issued a statement expressing their rejection of “individual rule and the indefinite suspension of democratic life,” as well as restrictions on freedoms and rights and travel bans.

The statement said, “After what the situation has devolved into following the decisions taken by the President of the Republic on July 25, 2021, and after the expiry of the first period and the suspension of democratic life for an “indefinite” term on August 23, 2021, they, and the national interest prevail over all interests. The other, they understand the protest movements that took place on July 25, 2021, resulting from the general conditions and the poor performance of successive governments, but this does not mean that they accepted, as representatives, politicians and citizens, the transition to a stage of individual rule, regardless of the justifications.

They affirmed that “considering Parliament as the perilous danger, as stated in the President’s speech, constitutes a violation of the democratic rules on which the foundations of good governance are built.”

They stressed that “taking public measures aimed at restricting freedoms by preventing illegal travel and placing under house arrest representatives, judges, lawyers, businessmen and officials, and judicial proceedings against a number of deputies before the military court, as well as violating the legal procedures in force in democratic countries, especially the separation 24 of the constitution; Most of them are measures that violate basic freedoms, which is considered a serious threat to human rights, causing serious harm to Tunisians, and harming Tunisia’s international reputation, while at the same time they represent a violation of international treaties and internal laws.

The statement pointed out that “the letter of condemnation of judges unlawfully and the arbitrary sentencing of persons, professions and institutions undermine the pillars of the rule of law, the principle of judicial independence and the conditions of a fair trial.”

They called for “the immediate lifting of travel bans, arbitrary and illegal house arrest decisions, stopping the trial of civilians before the military judiciary, respecting the independence of the judiciary and preserving its prestige.”

The statement called on fellow deputies to “amend the internal system of Parliament administration in the current circumstances, taking into account the political and realistic facts of the country in this period, so that it can play its natural role in political life in this difficult period in which the country is going through, and gives a positive image that restores its institutions credibility, and opens up A new page in the light of which restores the confidence of our people.”

One of the signatories to the statement, MP Ayyad Al-Loumi, confirmed in a statement to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that he signed the statement, which he was notified electronically, like other MPs; Because he adopts the demands contained in it, adding that there are a significant number of signatories to it, including independents such as Issam Barkouki, Khaled Qassoma and Zuhair Makhlouf, stressing that “the demands are reasonable and include the defense of freedoms and democracy, and therefore they are legitimate demands.”

Al-Loumi said that he does not see that “Tunisia is going in the right direction, and as a citizen and before I am an MP, the situation is worrying,” considering that the abuses and violations affected many areas.

Some deputies published the statement to express their concern and support for these demands, including Osama Al-Khelaifi, a member of the “Heart of Tunisia” party, and Al-Nahda lawmaker, Al-Bashir Al-Khelaifi.