| A Tunisian comedian in prison for imitating Ben Ali | Date: 13-02-2008 |
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A Tunisian comedian in prison for imitating Ben Ali
On February 4, the Tunisian comedian, Hedi Ouled baballah was sentenced by the court of first instance of Ben Arous (suburb of Tunis) to one year in prison and a fine of 1000 dinars (800 USD). He is charged with "possession of a narcotic substance classified as a B." A few grams of "Zatla" (cannabis) were apparently discovered "extempore" by the special services in another "routine control ". In this control, the comedian was accompanied by a driver in a rental car; he was considered by the police and the judge, as the only possible "owner" of the drug, which observers presume was deposited by police officers in Hédi Ouled baballahs pocket after his arrest, as has happened repeatedly. The blood test made by the police after the arrest of Hédi Ouled baballah showed to be negative. At the hearing, Hédi Ouled baballah declared to be unaware of this drug, and referred to a montage of the police against him. The hypothesis of a police montage seems the most likely for observers who know that in Tunisia, the dissidents are never convicted for what they really done, but for offences dishonourable, as was the case for the lawyer Mohamed Abbou (violence against female colleague), or more recently, with the journalist Slim Boukhdhir (infringement of morality)! Hedi Ouled Baballah has, in fact, produced a sketch in which he imitates President Ben Ali; this sketch circulated widely in Tunisia on an informal basis by a recording of cellphone; The sketch was first presented three weeks ago in a private place in Sfax (2d city in Tunisia). This is the second time that Hedi Ouled Baballah has produced a sketch on the same topics. After the production of the first sketch, he had been arrested by the police and detained at the detention centre of Bouchoucha from 9 to 11 March 2007. During his detention, he was severely beaten by the security services officers and, as a result, he filed a complaint for "aggravated violence”, but his complaint has not been acted upon. After this second skit, this dirty drugs case has been mounted against him to punish him for having transgressed the red lines.
The Observatory - Considers this case as a police montage and believes that Hédi Ouled Baballah was the victim of a violation of his basic freedom of expression, guaranteed by the Tunisian laws and international instruments. - demands the unconditional release of the comedian Hédi Ouled Baballah
- Calls all those committed to freedom of expression to call for his release. |
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