Tunisia Military Court Frees Opposition Politicians

A Tunisian military court has ordered the release of two detained opposition politicians.

Seifeddine Makhlouf, the leader of the conservative Karama Party, was arrested in September with a party colleague, Nidhal Saudi, on charges of ‘assaulting policemen.’

Lawyers say Mr. Makhlouf is being freed under judicial supervision and is expected to leave prison shortly.

The Islamist politician is a “fierce critic of Tunisia’s president, Kais Saied, who suspended parliament and sacked the government last July, arresting several senior politicians.”

Human rights groups have criticised the use of military courts to hear cases.

Many opposition figures have described the president’s power grab as a coup, and it has prompted mass protests across the country.

BBC /Shakirat Sadiq