Tunisia's parliament has resurrected a long-buried draft bill addressing police protection that once again is raising fears that the country will return to a "police state." The proposal is designed to prevent attacks on and abuse of police and customs officials and, ostensibly, guarantee the stability of society at large.

During a Nov. 15 parliament session, Interior Minister Lutfi Ibrahim called for the formation of a joint committee with representatives of the Defense, Justice and Interior ministries and the Committee on General Legislation to consider an amended edition of the draft law. He said, “The draft law will not be withdrawn from the House of Representatives.”

Speaker Mohamed al-Nasser said the draft law would be referred to a committee that would meet with civil society organizations to look into their proposals. He said, “It is our duty to protect security men, but it is also our duty to protect human rights and respect the 2017 constitution.”

The secularist Nidaa Tunis party, which holds the parliamentary majority, supports the draft law. But otherwise, the 2-year-old proposal is raising a storm of controversy, as some voices are calling for its complete withdrawal while others would settle for amendments.