Tunisia –Martyrs Belaïd and Brahmi defence collective threatens to boycott the March 8 hearing

The Committee for the Defense of Persons Responsible for Personal Rights in the Cases of Martyrs Chokri Belaïd and Mohamed Brahmi has announced its intention to boycott the court session planned for March 8, 2024. This session is fixed to conclude the interrogations and commence pleadings in the cases of the two martyrs. The boycott is contingent on whether journalists, both male and female, are permitted to cover the event and whether all interested individuals are allowed to attend this and all future sessions related to the cases.

In a press release published today, Wednesday, March 6, 2024, the Defense collective emphasised its observations that the court handling the case should have been conducted in a public setting since the February 6 session. Such an approach would allow the public to stay informed regarding the case’s progress and permit unrestricted access for journalists, members of civil society, and any interested parties to follow and cover the proceedings.

The collective highlighted that isolating the trial from public scrutiny by hindering media coverage and reducing courtroom attendance undermines one of the fundamental principles of a fair trial: transparency. They assert that participating in a trial that lacks this critical element, particularly in cases as significant as these, which they refer to as the “crime of the century” in Tunisia, falls outside the defence’s willingness to engage, citing concerns over the fairness of the process.