Thousands of people protested on Monday in the capital and provincial cities over what they see as the authorities’ failure to break with the legacy of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, the leader toppled in a revolution that inspired the “Arab Spring”.
The protests were sparked by the release of former Justice Minister Bechir Tekkari from prison and the news that Saida Agrebi, a friend of Ben Ali’s wife, had fled to Paris.
“We recognise that they are slower in these cases … The judiciary must take into account the expressions (of people’s will) and there should be a lot more speed,” he said in a televised address to the nation.
He said it was unfortunate that some people associated with Ben Ali were free and provoking public anger. “We’ll take precautionary measures against them,” Sebsi said without specifying the nature of those measures.
He also said he had asked the Minister of Justice to take measures against any judges who may be involved in corruption.
PROTECTING REVOLUTION
Tunisia electrified the Middle East in January when mass protests forced Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia. Tunisia’s revolution became the template for uprisings across the Arab world.