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| Release of two reports on the HR situation in Tunisia | Date: 09-11-1999 |
| Author: EMHRN | |
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Two New Reports on Human Rights in Tunisia released: Torture, Arbitrary Detention and Unfair Trial in Tunisia: The Trial against Radhia Nassraoui and Twenty Co-Defendants. The State of Liberties and Human Rights in Tunisia The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) released two new reports on the human rights situation in Tunisia today. The EMHRN hereby wish to bring the continuous violations of human rights in Tunisia to the attention of the public and the EU member states. The reports are released one week ahead of the Association Council meeting between Tunisia and the EU, due to take place November 16. This is the second meeting since the entry into force of the Association Agreement within the framework of the Barcelona process. Article 2 of the Agreement between the EU and Tunisia states that an essential element of the cooperation shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles. However, since the signing of the Agreement in July 1995 human rights are still systematically violated by the Tunisian government. The report Torture, Arbitrary Detention and Unfair Trial in Tunisia: The Trial against Radhia Nassraoui and Twenty Co-Defendants describes the trials in the summer of 1999 against the well-known human rights defender, Radhia Nassraoui and twenty young opponents to the Tunisian regime, who were accused of dissemination of false reports liable to disrupt public order, the incitement to transgress the laws of the country, conspiracy with a view to uprising, the constitution of an organisation inciting hatred, etc. The report mentions the use of brutal torture against the defendants to extract confessions; the use of arbitrary detention; and the systematic hampering of the normal exercise/practice of the defence. The report The State of Liberties and Human Rights in Tunisia describes the systematic violation of the right to the protection of private life; the safeguarding of physical integrity; the freedom of movement; freedom of opinion and expression; freedom of the press and the right to information; and freedom of association and organisation. On the basis of this evidence, the EMHRN urges the EU member states and the Tunisian government to make the assessment of the parties compliance with article 2 of the Association Agreement an explicit point on the agenda at the Association Council meeting, with the view to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights in Tunisia. The credibility of the human rights dimension of the Barcelona process is at stake in this regard. |
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