Tunisians in capital protest against corruption amnesty law

Hundreds of Tunisians have held a demonstration in protest against a controversial draft law that offers amnesty for corruption offences committed during the rule of ousted dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Press TV reports.

The protest was staged on Saturday in the capital city of Tunis with protesters carrying banners and chanting slogans against the draft law.

“The so-called economic reconciliation is unconstitutional because it is a favor given to the ousted regime’s remnants. The authorities are using the state of emergency to pass the law,” a protester told the Press TV correspondent in Tunis.

The draft "economic and financial reconciliation" bill was presented by President Beji Caid Essebsi to the cabinet back in July.

Based on the proposed law, those charged with or convicted of financial corruption under Ben Ali will be pardoned if they confess and give back any money obtained. The Tunisian government says the money received in this way will inject needed funding into the North African country’s economy.

This is while critics from both political parties and civil society have denounced the law as a step back almost five years after a popular revolution against corruption and abuse of power that were commonplace during Ben Ali’s rule.

“This plan will not serve national interests. It authorizes money laundering by the former ruling gang. It legalizes large-scale corruption,” another demonstrator said.

Several people accused of corruption have been imprisoned or have escaped the country since the 2011 uprising in Tunisia.

Saturday’s protest came despite a state of emergency that has banned protests in Tunisia with the interior ministry calling it illegal and warning that "the law will be applied."

Tunisian authorities declared a state of emergency, under which such gatherings are outlawed, following a terrorist attack in June that killed nearly 40 tourists at a beach resort.

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