Nine months have passed since the arrest of the political figures accused by President K. Saïed of "plotting against state security". The latter has not hesitated to designate all those seeking to prove their innocence as accomplices in the plot.

Clearly, the aim is to silence any voices venturing to expose the vacuity of the cases "investigated" against the prisoners, and the absence of the slightest evidence of any attempt to undermine state institutions or overthrow the government.

In fact, the aim is to destroy the freedom of political action made possible by the December 17th/January 14th Revolution, after decades of despotism. Today's regime is determined to deny citizens this right, and to silence all voices that refuse to submit to its diktat, whether they emanate from opposition groups, journalists, social networks, business circles, etc.

This choice of all-out repression is the corollary of the failure of the discourse that presided over the coup de force against the Constitution on July 25, 2021, and the failure of promises to fight corruption, boost investment and improve the economic and social situation. Instead, there is unprecedented inflation, recurrent shortages, speculation, smuggling... and daily repression.

We, the undersigned, Tunisian, Maghrebi and international personalities,

Committed to defending the values of freedom and democracy,

Committed to the achievements of the Tunisian revolution, which crowned the long struggle of the Tunisian people and their youth against injustice and despotism,

And whereas the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty by an independent justice system and an impartial judiciary must benefit everyone:

- We demand the release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, and their right to a fair trial in the presence of local and international observers, an essential condition for guaranteeing the transparency of cases before the public.

The delays, postponements and vengeful behavior of the Tunisian authorities have gone on far too long.

- We strongly condemn the statements made by the examining magistrate forbidding the media to get involved in the case of the political prisoners, proof if ever there was of the vacuity and inanity of the accusations levelled against them.

- Let's salute the courage of the lawyers whose efforts demonstrate day after day the vacuity of the cases in progress, enlightening public opinion on their purely political nature, despite the harassment campaigns against them.

We call on the forces of justice and freedom to strengthen solidarity with Tunisian political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, and to enlighten international public opinion about the suffering they and their families are enduring.