Ex-Tunisian Judge Jailed for Criticizing Government Interference in Court Freed

JAKARTA - The Tunisian court decided to release Ahmed Souab, a well-known lawyer in the country who often criticizes Tunisian President Kais Saied.

The court did not give a reason for its decision to release Souab on Monday local time.

"This is very good news, and we hope it will be followed by the release of all unjustly imprisoned prisoners," Souab's brother, Mongi, told Reuters.

"We are on our way to the prison waiting for his release," he continued.

Souab is serving a five-year prison sentence since being jailed last year. Recently, his family said he had health problems.

When Souab was arrested last year, the public in Tunisia was outraged. Civil society groups in Tunisia judged the arrest as a form of silencing criticism and confirmed authoritarianism in the country.

Souab, a lawyer and retired administrative judge, has repeatedly said the judiciary has lost its independence under Saied's rule.

Last year, Souab said Tunisia's judicial institutions had been destroyed, while its judges were under pressure "with knives to their heads."

Authorities considered his comments a threat to judges, and detained him on terrorism-related charges.