Amnesty International expressed “deep concern” about Tunisia’s adoption of a new constitution that “undermines human rights”, while the European Union called for “preserving” basic freedoms in the country.
The organization said that the Tunisian constitution, which was put to a referendum two days ago, is “flawed” and threatens the main institutional guarantees of human rights.
It added that it “undermines human rights and jeopardizes the progress made in this area since the 2011 revolution.”
“It dismantles many guarantees of judicial independence, removes protection for civilians from military trials, and gives the authorities the power to restrict human rights or retract international human rights obligations,” she added.
And she cautioned that “this new constitution – which has now replaced the 2014 constitution – was drafted behind closed doors through a process completely dominated by President Kais Saied.”
This recognition comes – according to the organization – “exactly one year after President Said seized power, during which the authorities targeted prominent critics and political opponents through criminal investigations and prosecutions, which led to the deterioration of human rights protection in Tunisia at an alarming rate.”
Meanwhile, the European Union said it had “taken note” of the interim results of the constitutional referendum in Tunisia, and called on the authorities to “preserve” fundamental freedoms in a declaration published on behalf of the 27 members of the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
The European Union noted that the July 25 referendum recorded a “low turnout” and stressed the need to reach a “broad consensus” between political forces and civil society on “all the important political and economic reforms that Tunisia will undertake.”
The union added in its statement that “freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of demonstration and other fundamental freedoms are the fundamental values of democratic countries, and the European Union upholds them in particular, and they must be preserved.”
