House Bill Eyes Sanctions on Tunisian Officials for Undermining Democracy
Reps. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Jason Crow, D-Colo., introduced a bill Sept. 2 that would authorize the president to impose property-blocking sanctions on Tunisian officials responsible for the country’s recent democratic backsliding and increased human rights abuses.
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Tunisian President Kais Saied, who has been accused of imprisoning political opponents, has led what the legislation calls an "authoritarian takeover" of the North African country. The Tunisia Democracy Restoration Act was referred to the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees.
The bill's introduction came about two months after five Senate Democrats presented a resolution urging the Trump administration to sanction Tunisian officials involved in political repression (see 2506270005).
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., one of the resolution’s sponsors, said at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Sept. 3 that Tunisia recently ordered the arrest of one of his constituents for sending a report on human rights abuses to the State Department. “And now if he returns to Tunisia, he’ll be locked up,” Murphy said.