Transitional Justice and the Prosecution of Political Leaders in the A

The dramatic uprisings that ousted the long-standing leaders of several countries in the Arab region set in motion an unprecedented period of social, political and legal transformation. The prosecution of political leaders took centre stage in the pursuit of transitional justice following the 'Arab Spring'. Through a comparative case study of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen, this book argues that transitional justice in the Arab region presents the strongest challenge yet to the transitional justice paradigm. This paradigm is built on the underlying assumption that transitions constitute a shift from non-liberal to liberal democratic regimes, where often legal measures are taken to address atrocities committed during the prior regime. The book is guided by two principal questions: first, what trigger and driving factors led to the decision of whether or not to prosecute former political leaders? And second, what shaping factors affected the content and extent of decisions regarding prosecution? In answering these questions, the book enhances our understanding of how transitional justice is pursued by different actors in varied contexts. In doing so, it challenges the predominant understanding that transitional justice uniformly occurs in liberalising contexts and calls for a re-thinking of transitional justice theory and practice. Using original findings generated from almost 50 interviews across 4 countries, this research builds on the growing critical literature that claims that transitional justice is an under-theorised field and needs to be developed to take into account non-liberal and complex transitions. It will be stimulating and thought-provoking reading for all those interested in transitional justice and the 'Arab Spring'.

The dramatic uprisings that ousted the long-standing leaders of several countries in the Arab region set in motion an unprecedented period of social, political and legal transformation. The prosecution of political leaders took centre stage in the pursuit of transitional justice following the 'Arab Spring'. Through a comparative case study of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen, this book argues that transitional justice in the Arab region presents the strongest challenge yet to the transitional justice paradigm. This paradigm is built on the underlying assumption that transitions constitute a shift from non-liberal to liberal democratic regimes, where often legal measures are taken to address atrocities committed during the prior regime. The book is guided by two principal questions: first, what trigger and driving factors led to the decision of whether or not to prosecute former political leaders? And second, what shaping factors affected the content and extent of decisions regarding prosecution? In answering these questions, the book enhances our understanding of how transitional justice is pursued by different actors in varied contexts. In doing so, it challenges the predominant understanding that transitional justice uniformly occurs in liberalising contexts and calls for a re-thinking of transitional justice theory and practice. Using original findings generated from almost 50 interviews across 4 countries, this research builds on the growing critical literature that claims that transitional justice is an under-theorised field and needs to be developed to take into account non-liberal and complex transitions. It will be stimulating and thought-provoking reading for all those interested in transitional justice and the 'Arab Spring'.

1. Introduction Significance of the Arab Regio4Significance of Pre-transition Decisions Regarding Prosecution The Arab Region: Rethinking Transitional Justice Scholarship The Absence of a 'Return to a Liberal State' The Necessity of Pre-existing Democratic Institutions Critical Transitional Justice Literature Socio-economic Accountability and Transitional Justice Transitional Justice and the Arab Spring: Emerging Scholarship Methodology Challenges An Expanded Definition of 'Political Leaders' Case Selection Structure of the Book Conclusion 2. Egypt Summary of Post-2011 Prosecutions The Prosecution of Political Leaders in Pre-transition Egypt Content and Extent of Prosecutions in Post-transition Egypt A Military-Controlled Transition Egypt's Judicial Struggle for Independence Other Legal Challenges to Prosecutions of Political Leaders Popular Demands for Accountability Prosecutions: A Scapegoating Strategy The Socio-economic Roots of the TransitionThe Role of Workers' Movements and Labour Unions The Role of International Actors The Role of Domestic Human Rights Civil Society Organisations Conclusion Triggers Drivers Shapers 3. Tunisia The Prosecution of Political Leaders in Pre-transition Tunisia The Baraket Essahel Case: The Prosecution of Abdallah Qallel The Case of General Habib Ammar The Khaled Ben Saïd Case Content and Extent of Prosecutions in Post-transition Tunisia A Transition Muddled by the Anciens Nouveaux Workers' Movements and Labour Unions: The Leading Role of the UGTT Legal Challenges The Role of International Actors The Role of Domestic Civil Society Conclusion Triggers Drivers Shapers 4. Libya Case 630/2012-The Trial of 37 Former Members of the Gaddafi Regime The Prosecution of Political Leaders in Pre-transition Libya The Search for Accountability for Abu Salim Politicised Courts and the Prioritisation of 'Security' Content and Extent of Prosecutions in Post-transition Libya A Weak Judiciary Under Threat The Role of International Actors The Role of Domestic Civil Society Conclusion Triggers Drivers Shapers 5. Yemen The Prosecution of Political Leaders in Pre-transition Yemen The Decision Not to Prosecute in Yemen An Ambiguous Transition, Civil Society and Navigating the GCC Initiative 'A Different Kind of International Intervention': Geopolitics and the Role of International Actors Legal Challenges and a Weak Judiciary Content and Extent of Decisions Regarding Prosecution Conclusion Triggers Drivers Shapers 6. Reckoning with Transitional Justice Egypt Tunisia Libya Yemen Non-paradigmatic Transitions Whose Transitional Justice? Domestic and International Advocates of Competing Visions of Transitional Justice Limited Accountability and Foregrounding Social Justice The Content and Extent of Decisions Regarding Prosecution: A Recap Rethinking Transitional Justice Theory and Practice The Legacy of Deep State Institutions Morocco: Transitional Justice for a Quasi-transition? Conclusion 7. Conclusion