French Authorities Arrest Halima Ben Ali, Daughter of Former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
A French judicial source confirmed on Tuesday that Halima Ben Ali, the youngest daughter of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, has been arrested in response to an extradition request issued by Tunisia.
Background
Aged 30, Halima Ben Ali is set to appear before the Paris prosecutor's office on Wednesday, where she will be informed of the request for provisional detention. This procedure precedes the examination by the investigation chamber of the possibility of her extradition to Tunisia or potential placement under judicial supervision.
Extradition Proceedings
According to the same source, a hearing before the specialized extradition investigation chamber will be scheduled at a later date. Halima Ben Ali is the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol at the request of the Tunisian authorities for alleged embezzlement of public funds, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Defense Response
Her lawyer, Me Samia Maktouf, stated that her client "has committed no offense," denouncing a "campaign of revenge targeting the former president." She claimed that her client is a victim of judicial instrumentalization with a political character. Me Maktouf also indicated that she would contact the French Minister of the Interior to denounce the conditions of the arrest, alleging that a French police officer of Tunisian origin publicly insulted Halima Ben Ali, calling her a "thief" after identifying her during the arrest.
Previous Proceedings
This is not the first time Halima Ben Ali has been targeted by international judicial proceedings. She was previously arrested in Italy in 2018 at the request of Tunisia before being released. Currently residing in Dubai, she was arrested in Paris during a private visit.
Next Steps
The case will proceed with the examination of the extradition request and potential placement under judicial supervision, pending the outcome of the investigation chamber's review.
