Tunisian MPs call for PM to be held accountable for attacks on protesters

Tunisian lawmakers yesterday called for Prime Minister Habib Essid and Interior Minister Mohamed Najem Gharsalli to be held accountable for the security forces’ crackdown on demonstrators who protested against the Economic Reconciliation Act in several Tunisian cities.

Members of Parliament representing the opposition parties protested against what they called “repression and the return of tyranny and the police state” because of the security service’s approach against the protesters over the past few days and the arrest of bloggers and civil society activists.

Deputies from the ruling coalition including the Ennahda movement, Nidaa Tounes and the Free Patriotic Union have also called for the interior minister to be held accountable and said they refuse to prevent peaceful protests under the pretext of the emergency law.

A Ministry of Interior spokesman announced on Monday that no licences will be issued for protests because of fears that terrorists will infiltrate them.

The decision was made after the government received information that institutions in the capital would be targeted, he said.