press releases & Protests

March 20, 2006

The Honorable Mohamed Nejib Hachana,
Ambassador of Tunisia to the United States of America
1515 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005

VIA FACSIMILE (202) 862 1858

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your most welcome fax of February 28, in which you inform us of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s pardon of several detainees.

We welcome the release of Hamadi Jebali, the “youth of Zarzis,” and other prisoners and urge the Tunisian government to release promptly the remainder of the political prisoners and end attacks on freedom of assembly and association.

We wish to call to your attention:

--President Ben Ali’s decision on February 25 to “grant presidential pardon” to hundreds of prisoners, including scores of detainees whose sole crime (according to local and international rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Human Rights First) was to exercise their constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of expression and association, and occurred at a time when attacks on these basic rights continue unabated.

--On February 24, the Tunisian police prevented legal opposition parties and political and rights activities from holding a peaceful demonstration in Tunis.

--The “presidential pardon” was made public the same day a court in Tunis postponed once again the examination of the case brought by individuals close to the government against the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH). Both LTDH and Tunisian Journalists Syndicate were arbitrarily prevented in early September of 2005 (which our Executive Director experienced personally) from holding their general conferences. Even countries on friendly terms with President Ben Ali, such as the United States, acknowledge that the Tunisian Judiciary is heavily influenced by the Executive Branch.

--Tunisian rights groups and Mohamed Abbou’s wife, Samia, were prevented on March 2 from holding a peaceful demonstration in front of the prison of the City of Kief where Abbou is detained after what multiple international observers deemed an unfair trial for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

--Sixteen political prisoners and prisoners of conscience being held at the Borj Erroumi Prison in the suburbs of the City of Bizerte, went on hunger strike on March 3 to draw attention once again of the local and international public opinion to their plight and unfair imprisonment which began nearly 15 years ago.

We call for the release of Mohamed Abbou, for the return of his credentials and office materials, and for the elimination of all restrictions of freedom of expression, assembly and association in the spirit of the WSIS II. Mr. Abbou is a prominent figure of the Tunisian Bar sentenced in June of 2005 to 3 ½ years of prison after what has been characterized internationally as a parody of a trial, where the court, after having ordered the expulsion of all the lawyers denying them the right to plead, refused to hear either the defendant or the witness for the defense. International Civil Society groups consider Mohamed Abbou a political hostage for his having published on the Internet an opinion which the authorities disliked. We are reminded repeatedly during our numerous visits to Tunisia that freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Tunisian Constitution.

In summary, along with numerous international press freedom, freedom of expression and human rights organizations, we welcome the recent “presidential pardon” of numerous detainees, and call upon the Tunisian government to utilize this as a first step to increase reforms within the Tunisian culture to create robust and free civil society discussion without any hindrance from police harassment or interference.

The international reputation of the Tunisian government depends upon this occurring relatively rapidly.

Sincerely,

James A. Ottaway, Jr.
Chairman


E. Markham Bench
Executive Director