Tunisia: Parliament adopts a bill criminalizing the normalization of relations with Israel
The legislative tightening is all the more meaningful as the appalling massacre of the population of Gaza has sparked an immense wave of solidarity throughout Tunisia. Kaïs Saïed himself, the head of state, is an early opponent of “Zionism”, whose deadly designs he has long denounced: “exterminate the Palestinian people”.
While the complicit inertia and silence of Western powers in the face of the horror of the genocide committed by Israel disgrace them forever, Tunisia stands out for its most laudable political will, the aim of which must be saluted: criminalize even the slightest link with the Israeli apartheid state and its war criminals. Thus, the Committee on Rights and Freedoms at the Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP) unanimously approved, on Monday, a bill along these lines.
This is what emerges from a press release made public by Parliament, specifying that hearing sessions will be organized on the subject of the said proposal, according to the Tunis Afrique presse agency (TAP/official).
The debates between the deputies focused on the need to toughen the sanctions relating to crimes linked to normalization. They also examined the proposed amendments to article 2 of this proposal which are focused, for the most part, on the definition of the concept of direct or mediated treatment with the Zionist entity. The amended article was adopted by a majority of members present.
The president of the Commission on Rights and Freedoms at the Assembly of People’s Representatives, Hela Jaballah, declared on Mosaïque FM radio that the bill includes the definition of certain terms, namely “Zionist entity”, “normalization” and “the crime of normalization”, including acts that give rise to legal proceedings.
She explained that any person who attempts or participates, communicates, collaborates or deals with the Zionist entity through various cultural, commercial, military, educational or other activities, is likely to be criminally prosecuted on the basis of this law.
“ The application of the law will come into force upon its publication in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic (JORT) and the sanction is imprescriptible.she emphasized.