'Released but not free': Tunisian opposition figures banned from 'appearing in public'

Tunisian justice has slapped a ban on two recently released opposition figures from travelling abroad or appearing in public places in Tunisia, prompting rights groups to submit a complaint to the UN against Kais Siaed's increasing oppression in the North African state.

"Since last Friday, a ban on travel and appearance in public places has been issued against two defendants (without naming them by name) in the context of the so-called conspiracy against state security," Tunis Court of Appeal spokesman Habib Torkhani told the official Tunisian news agency TAP late Monday night, 17 July.

The two figures are writer Chaima Issa, a member of the main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, and ex-minister and lawyer Lazhar Akremi.

The two figures were previously arrested in February under the charge of "conspiracy against state security," which included 20 other opposition, media and business figures.

While the travel ban has become a popular measure against dissidents under Saied's rule, the prohibition on "appearing in public" is "an unprecedented decision in the history of Tunisia," according to lawyer Dalila Mosaddeq, a Member of the Defense Committee for Political Detainees.

"(...) What is strange is the decision to prevent appearing in public places, as the term is inaccurate and somewhat similar to house arrest," Tunisian Political activist Muhammad Al-Qumani told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the Arabic-language sister publication to The New Arab.

The Tunisian activist argues that the authorities are "panicking and hesitating" in tackling opponents’ cases facing the rising criticism of Saied’s arrests against his critics.

The defence committee said it will officially respond to this decision in a press conference on 20 July.

Last week, four right groups, including The Tunisian National Committee for the Defense and Avocats Sans Frontières, filed a joint complaint before the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of eight Tunisian political prisoners arbitrarily detained under trumped-up charges of "conspiracy against the state".

"The complaint was submitted on behalf of Khayam Al Turki, Chaima Issa, Abdelhamid Al Jelassi, Issam Al Chebbi, Ghazi Al Chaouachi, Ridha Belhaj, Jaouhar Ben M'barek, and Lazher Al Akremi," reads the press release.

The eight political opposition figures have been in arbitrary detention in the so-called "Conspiracy Against the State" investigation.

Rights groups have condemned what they described as a "witch hunt" aimed at "repressing" freedom of opinion in the North African country since President Saied froze parliament and sacked the government in a dramatic move two years ago.

Arrests since February include National Salvation Front co-founder Jaouhar Ben Mbarek and Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Islamist-inspired opposition Ennahdha party.

In addition to the political crisis triggered by Saied's power grab, Tunisia has been shaken by a severe financial crisis and is searching for foreign aid.