Tunisian Lawyer Files Complaint Against Singer for Joining Israeli Army
Calls to Strip Citizenship from Tunisians Involved in Gaza Aggression Spark Legal and Public Outrage.
Watan-Tunisian lawyer Hadi Al-Hamdhouni announced that he had filed a legal complaint against Jewish singer Chey Mimouni, accusing him of involvement in the aggression on the Gaza Strip, along with other unnamed Tunisians who he said fought alongside the Israeli occupation army. He demanded that their Tunisian citizenship be revoked.
Mimouni had previously sparked widespread controversy in Tunisia after photos and videos emerged showing him wearing the Israeli army uniform. Some reports indicated that he had joined the Israeli mechanized infantry brigade following the outbreak of aggression on Gaza in response to the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation launched by the Palestinian resistance on October 7, 2023.
Al-Hamdhouni stated: “I filed a case with the military prosecutor against Chey Mimouni, who participated in the Zionist occupation army’s crimes as a combatant, as well as against every Tunisian who fought alongside the occupation army or supported them in any form. As evidence, I relied on videos from Mimouni’s official social media accounts, which he later froze following the public outcry and the strong campaign against him by Tunisians across all ages and backgrounds.”
Military Trial Demanded for Treason Over Israeli Army Ties
He added: “The case was taken to the military court because it has jurisdiction over these types of crimes, which can be punishable by death. This is the penalty for any traitor who joins a foreign army in times of peace or war against their country or its interests. We have requested an urgent and comprehensive investigation into how Chey Mimouni left Tunisian territory and joined the Israeli army, and whether he received any form of facilitation to do so.”
Al-Hamdhouni confirmed that the investigation also targets “those who facilitated Mimouni’s departure, whether individuals or entities, and anyone who assisted him. The investigation will also look into the logistical and technical channels that may have aided recruitment for the Israeli occupation forces, and seek to identify any intelligence networks possibly involved. We have information on others who supported Israel and participated in combat.”
He continued: “This complaint is the start of a legal process aimed at holding accountable all those involved in fighting with the occupation army. The most important goal is stripping them of their Tunisian citizenship. It is not honorable for Tunisians to share nationality with those who betray the state that suffered under French colonialism. One of the legal grounds for revoking citizenship is engaging in hostile acts against the state or harming its interests.”
Legal Action Over Foreign Army Enlistment
Al-Hamdhouni emphasized that legal measures would be taken against Chey Mimouni and any individual proven to have fought with the occupation army in accordance with Tunisian law and international laws on war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He added: “All necessary measures will be taken to prosecute any Tunisian citizen proven to have participated in military actions with the Israeli army, in a way that safeguards Tunisian sovereignty and rejects all forms of collaboration with the occupation. Legal procedures will be expedited to preserve evidence and bring those responsible to justice as quickly as possible, ensuring accountability for anyone who contributes to or supports such acts in accordance with national and international law.”
Al-Hamdhouni warned of the severity of Mimouni’s actions on national security: “His joining the Israeli army is not just an individual act—it poses a direct threat to Tunisian national security. If given the opportunity, he and those like him could take up arms against Tunisia, presenting a serious future threat to the unity and stability of the Tunisian state.”
He also clarified that Mimouni’s act does not fall under the same category as cases of recruitment to conflict zones, stating: “The two cases differ in terms of recruitment methods, background, and legal classification. Recruitment to conflict zones involves joining armed militias and terrorist organizations, while Mimouni’s case involves joining a regular foreign army and fighting with it.”
Call to Criminalize Normalization
Regarding whether the absence of a law criminalizing normalization with Israel contributes to the recurrence of such “crimes,” Al-Hamdhouni said: “Criminalizing normalization won’t completely solve the issue, because the Zionist entity uses covert means, and most of its citizens hold dual nationality. They often don’t reveal their original Israeli citizenship. Even in business, they operate through companies based in other countries or multinational firms.”
He concluded: “However, criminalizing normalization will make it legally easier to track and prosecute all those who deal with the occupation. That’s why we call for criminalizing normalization.”
“As a Tunisian,” he said, “I support my country’s official and popular stance against any form of aggression against the Palestinian people. We cannot tolerate anyone who contributes to what is the crime of our time—the genocide of this defenseless population.”
