MP Abdelrazak Oueidat, head of the Al Khatt Al Watani Assiyadi parliamentary bloc at the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, told Tunisie Numérique that MP Ahmed Saïdani was interpellated on Wednesday, and that the public prosecutor’s office ordered that he be placed in police custody for 48 hours.
Proceedings based on Article 86 of the Telecommunications Code
According to Abdelrazak Oueidat, Ahmed Saïdani was referred under Article 86 of the Telecommunications Code, which criminalizes offending or harming others through public telecommunications networks, as per his statement.
From Mateur to Laouina: timeline and investigation
The bloc leader said he travelled on Wednesday to the city of Mateur, where Ahmed Saïdani resides. He added that Saïdani was interpellated at a café in the city, then transferred to the Central Brigade for Combating Cybercrime of the National Guard in Laouina.
According to the same source, questioning continued in the presence of five lawyers until 1:00 a.m., before the decision was made to place him in custody for 48 hours to complete the investigation.
The bloc challenges the method of interpellation and the lack of notice to parliament
Abdelrazak Oueidat also said the bloc issued a statement to protest the manner in which the interpellation was carried out. In his view, Ahmed Saïdani should have been summoned, rather than interpellated at a café “in front of citizens,” in his words, stressing that he is an elected MP and that his place of residence is known.
The bloc also objects, he said, to the fact that the Assembly of the Representatives of the People was not informed. While stating that they have “confidence in the Tunisian judiciary,” Oueidat said they oppose what he described as procedural violations and a clear breach of the Tunisian Constitution, according to his remarks.
Call for action by the bureau of the assembly
The MP added that the bloc intends to push for the Assembly Bureau to take up the matter, so that the institution assumes, as he put it, its responsibility in defending one of its members.
What does Article 86 provide?
Article 86 of Law No. 1 of 2001, promulgating the Telecommunications Code, states:
“Anyone who deliberately insults another person or disturbs their peace through public telecommunications networks shall be punished by imprisonment for a period ranging from one to two years and a fine of one hundred to one thousand dinars.”
What's happening in Tunisia?
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for updates.
