International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) strongly protests the ongoing imprisonment of Fahem Boukaddous, correspondent for Al-Badeel news website and TV journalist, whose four-year prison sentence for his reports on social protests was confirmed on appeal on 6 July 2010. He was jailed on 15 July, the day after he was discharged from hospital, and remains in urgent need of medical treatment for acute respiratory problems. The WiPC and other members of the IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG) call on the Tunisian authorities to release Boukaddous immediately and unconditionally and to ensure that he receives the medical care he requires.

Click here to read an appeal issued by the IFEX TMG to help save the life of Boukaddous

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send appeals (preferably in French) to the Tunisian authorities:

• Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Fahem Boukaddous on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights;
• Seeking reassurances that Boukaddous will receive the medical care he urgently requires;
• Calling for an end to the use of the Tunisian judiciary to stifle free expression and punish critical journalists.

APPEALS TO:

President
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Palais Présidentiel
Tunis, Tunisia
Fax: +216 71 744 721

Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Lazhar Bououni
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights
31 Boulevard Bab Benat
1006 Tunis - La Kasbah
Tunisia
Fax: +216 71 568 106
Email: mju@ministeres.tn
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to WiPC and to:

Directeur général des prisons
Rue 8003, Appartement -L-
Espace de Tunis Monplaisir
Tunisia
Fax: +216 71 904 472

The Tunisian Embassy in your country.
See: http://www.tunisia.com/tunisia/travel/tunisian-embassies