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Tunisia Expands Arrests of Individuals Accused of ‘Conspiring against State Security’

Tunisian President Kais Saied (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Tunisian President Kais Saied (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Tunisia Expands Arrests of Individuals Accused of ‘Conspiring against State Security’

Tunisian President Kais Saied (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Tunisian President Kais Saied (Asharq Al-Awsat)

A new wave of arrests in Tunisia has expanded to include businessmen, judges and security officials who have been accused of “conspiring against state security.”

Tunisian human rights sources estimated the number of detainees at about 15 individuals.

According to the sources, it is likely that the number of those detained will increase in the aftermath of the arrest of judges Bashir Akremi and Tayeb Rached.

Defense lawyers of those arrested demanded to know their clients’ whereabouts three days after they were detained by security services specialized in combating terrorism.

Police in Tunisia have arrested influential businessmen Kamel Eltaief and Samir Kamoun.

Abdelhamid Jelassi, a former senior leader of the Islamist-inspired movement Ennahdha — staunch opponents of President Kais Saied — and political activist Khayam Turki were also arrested.

Several observers linked Saied’s meeting a few days ago with Justice Minister Laila Jaffal to his push for “accountability and the need for the Tunisian judiciary to play its role during this stage.”

Moreover, those arrested will likely be interrogated in accordance with the anti-terrorism law.

“The matter differs between terrorist cases and ordinary cases, as the period of precautionary detention is set by the anti-terrorism law at five days,” said legal expert Abdulsattar al-Masoudi.

He added that precautionary detention can be renewed twice for a maximum period of 15 days.

“Moreover, lawyers in terrorist cases cannot attend investigations with their client, except after 48 hours from the start date of the arrest,” al-Masoudi added.

Several organizations and political parties expressed their fear of “disrespecting legal procedures and covering up behind vague charges such as conspiracy against state security to rid Saied of his political rivals.”

The Tunisian Association of Women Democrats (ATFD) condemned the arrests which it labeled as arbitrary.

The ATFD denounced arresting political activists who exercise their right to difference in a peaceful framework. It likewise denounced the methods of arrest and detention, which were characterized by terror and intimidation, flouting the security of the houses and families of activists.

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Syrian Government Intensifies Security Measures in Druze Areas Near Damascus

Druze men carry weapons at a checkpoint in Jaramana near Damascus (AFP). 
Druze men carry weapons at a checkpoint in Jaramana near Damascus (AFP). 
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Syrian Government Intensifies Security Measures in Druze Areas Near Damascus

Druze men carry weapons at a checkpoint in Jaramana near Damascus (AFP). 
Druze men carry weapons at a checkpoint in Jaramana near Damascus (AFP). 

The Syrian government is stepping up its security operations in Druze-majority towns in southern Syria, aiming to stabilize volatile areas in both rural Suwayda and the Damascus suburbs following recent sectarian unrest. Despite a newly brokered ceasefire, community leaders report that tensions remain in the districts of Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya.

Government forces continue to expand their presence in Al-Surah, a town in northern Suwayda, in an effort to push back armed groups operating outside state control. The campaign comes amid fears of renewed violence, particularly after clashes earlier this week that were sparked by the leak of an audio recording allegedly featuring a Druze cleric making offensive comments about Islam.

The recording ignited two days of violent confrontations, starting in Jaramana on Tuesday and spreading to Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, resulting in multiple casualties.

On Wednesday evening, a high-level meeting in Damascus brought together the governors of Suwayda, Rural Damascus, and Quneitra, alongside prominent Druze clerics and community leaders. According to Bassem Abu Fakhr, spokesperson for the “Men of Dignity” movement led by Sheikh Yahya Al-Hajjar, the meeting led to a ceasefire agreement and a plan to regulate arms in the region. Under the agreement, only personnel from the Ministries of Defense and Interior will be authorized to carry weapons.

Abu Fakhr told Asharq Al-Awsat that the deal also authorizes General Security forces to enter Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and assume control, with assurances that civilians would be protected from attacks by any group. A joint oversight committee was established to monitor compliance with the agreement’s terms.

In a statement published on its Telegram channel, the Suwayda Governorate confirmed the preliminary ceasefire and emphasized the importance of a cooperative approach to halt bloodshed and restore calm. Security officials also declared the conclusion of a military operation in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, with security chief Hossam Al-Tahan reporting that government forces had entered all neighborhoods and begun efforts to restore order.

Despite these moves, local residents report that tensions are far from resolved. In Jaramana, civil society representative Rabih Munzer described the atmosphere as “tense” and said that checkpoints at the city’s entrances are now manned by local General Security forces. He noted that the recent agreement has yet to be enacted, and a previous deal signed in March remains unimplemented.

Responding to calls from Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri for the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Syria, Munzer stated: “We are responsible for our own words—not the words of others.” He also warned of continued provocations by armed groups surrounding the city, including sniper fire and sporadic gunshots targeting civilians.

Further south in Al-Surah, security deployments continue under the supervision of the Suwayda Governor and the commander of the Syrian Army’s 40th Division. State-run media released images of security forces in the area, including photos of the governor overseeing the operation to pave the way for displaced residents to return safely.

However, Abu Fakhr warned that several villages—Kanaker, Ara, Sass, Al-Surah, and Dama—remain under threat from what he described as jihadist groups.