COUP MUST BE REJECTED , DANGEROUS FOR TUNISIA

We are expressing are deep concern and dismay by the new development in Tunisia.

President Kais Saied decision to freeze the government is an afront to the democratic institution of Tunisia and will set a dangerous path to heal the nation from previous tyranical and authocratic rule.

Abusing the constitution which is the bedrock of installing democracy in Tunisia by Saied’s announcement to freeze parliament and sack the government, will not augur well for a true democracy to reign in Tunisia.

We are shocked by the news that the speaker of the parliament , Rashid Ghannouchi , and several MPs were blocked by the army from entering the parliament. This is a clear assault to the legislative authority of a democracy.

The Tunisian people had rejected autocracy and authoritarianism and the freezing of the parliament is outrageuos.

We stand in solidarity with Ghannouchi and the people to defend their revolution and freedom.

The people have the right to defend the parliament and the constitution.

Ousting the government and using the army by the President to overthrow the government is nothing but a coup. The president cannot hide the illegal act by the rhetorics of protecting the country.

Saied’s proclaimation that he did not initiate a coup is contraditory to the reality of the principles of the revolution and the revolution’s slogans; work, freedom, dignity and patriotism.

We do not see any reason for him to dismantle the government elected by the people and revert to authoritoranism.

The coup had defied democracy and this is a sign that elements against the will of the people is trying to undermine a democratic government.

We condemn the orchestrated attacks on the offices of the Ennahda Movement , a clear plan to target the Islamic party from excercising its democratic right to rally majority support from the people.

We support the call by the leaders of thr Ennahda Movement to put aside the political disputes and give full attention to the surging pandemic Covid19 in Tunisia.

We also condemn the raid on the Aljazeera office and forcing the staffs to leave.
Tunisian security forces have stormed the offices of Al Jazeera and expelled its staff, the media group announced on social media.

This is an act of violating freedom of the press and reflects the return of a tyranical regime.

We reaffirm that Tunisia is s the only Arab country that succeeded in carrying out a democratic transition during the Arab Spring in 2011.

The political crisis between the Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and the President cannot justify the President to dismissed the government. This runs counter to the revolution of 2011 which dislodged the authocratic regime.

President Saied accusation of Mechichi that he is “violating the provisions of the constitution” do not have any legitimate cause to pull down an elected government by freezing the Parliament.

The Parliament has the executive right of
approving a vote of confidance which the President cannot over ride.

We see the recent development in Tunisia as a conspiracy to derail the political reform initiated from the revolution. The revolution had a strong inclination to shift from an authocratic regime to an Islamic democratic principles of governance. The Ennahda party succeeded in winning the highest seat reflected the aspiration of the people.

We call the people of Tunisia to restraint from any act of violence and to stay united in order to maintain the cause for a democratic governance and focus for a better future base on the principles of justice , freedom and dignity.

Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President Malaysian Consultative Council of Islanic Organizations

Datuk Wira Syekh Abdul Ghani Samsuddin
Chair Secretariate for the Assembly of Ulama of Asia

Datuk Seri Syekh Ahmad Awang
Chair Alliance of World Mosque in Defence of Al Aqsa