Amend the Human Rights Act

Leading member of Tunisia’s ruling coalition party Ennahda, Riyadh Shu'aybi, said that Ennahda is able to face the threat of terrorism without violating human rights or narrowing the scope of freedoms in the country. He criticised the use of the Terrorism Act and violations of human rights under former Tunisian President Ben Ali and demanded that the act be amended so that it retains the right of the state to fight terrorism but also ensures human rights. Shu’aybi considered that terrorism in Tunisia is motivated by the repressive policies of former President Ben Ali, and dismissed that the rise of Islamists to positions of power has not provoked terrorist acts, “terrorism has no religion,” he said. The leader also pointed out that the turmoil that followed the January 14 revolution provided an opportunity for a number of organisations to smuggle arms into the country, a situation that the Ennahda party is currently dealing with. The most scathing criticism was reserved for Tunisian opposition parties. According to Shu’aybi the opposition is “bankrupt and unable to evaluate the interests of the country,” and that those who accuse Ennahda of encouraging terrorism have used “poor logic” when making their conclusions. Shu’aybi also accused the opposition parties of “spreading rumours to compensate their bankruptcy.” Following the suicide attempts of some ex-Islamist prisoners in protest for not being compensated for the years of repression and persecution in the era of the former regime, Shu'aybi admitted that the Tunisian state should apologise and restore all the rights of political prisoners. He explained that “Ennahda is pushing to activate the general legislative amnesty to fulfill our obligations in this regard.” Ennahda is often criticised by opposition parties for its close ties to Qatar, however Shu’aybi dismissed this saying that Ennahda does not have links with countries but with “individuals, associations and media bodies,” and that "all official relations comply with state regulations.” According to the leader Tunisian-French relations are in a “transitional phase, and must be given a chance.” Shu'aybi acknowledged that the Tunisian political scene has changed since the 2011 election, and stated his belief that those who have supported Ennahda since this period will continue to do so. He stressed that the upcoming elections will reveal the depth of the Ennahda presence in the social fabric of Tunisia, predicting an “absolute majority.” Ennahda has recently done a u-turn on policy after deciding to participate in a trade union initiative which had previously been dismissed. "We did not respond to their initiative in October, because the agenda and the programme were not clear,” Shu’aybi said "but we responded to the call of presidency to open dialogue.” Leader and founder of Ennahda Rachid Ghannouchi has engrained his own moral and symbolic presence within the movement, but if the party is going to progress Shu’aybi believes that Ennahda success lies in internal democracy.” Finally, Shu'aybi said that nomination of former Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi in the upcoming presidential elections, is nothing but a “political manoeuvre aimed at paving the way for the real candidates.”