(IFEX-TMG) – The following is 13 May 2005 IFEX-TMG letter to Tunisian Interior and Local Development Minister Rafik Belhaj Kacem: M. Rafik Belhaj Kacem Ministre de l’intérieur et du développement local Tel.: +216 71 333 000 Fax: +216 71 340 880 or 216 71 340 888 e-mail: mint@ministeres.tn 13 May 2005 Dear Minister, We are […]
(IFEX-TMG) – The following is 13 May 2005 IFEX-TMG letter to Tunisian Interior and Local Development Minister Rafik Belhaj Kacem:
M. Rafik Belhaj Kacem
Ministre de l’intérieur et du développement local
Tel.: +216 71 333 000
Fax: +216 71 340 880 or 216 71 340 888
e-mail: mint@ministeres.tn
13 May 2005
Dear Minister,
We are deeply concerned as to the state of health and situation of Mr. Hamadi Jebali, whom we understood to have been recently moved to the prison of Mahdia. On a visit on Tuesday 10 May to the prison of Mahdia, his wife Mrs Wahida Jebali, was told she could not see him on the very unusual grounds that he was “not accepting to see anyone”.
As you will know, Mr Jebali has been in a poor state of health following years of solitary confinement in very difficult conditions. We welcomed the recent ending of his solitary confinement and the transfer to a prison closer to his home, however, following this latest report we now have renewed concerns for Mr Jebali’s health and welfare.
We ask you to urgently look into this matter and to provide reassurance that Mr Jebali is not, for any reason, being prevented from receiving visits from his family, and to ensure that he receives fair treatment and access to proper medical care and attention.
We also remind you that the Tunisia Monitoring Group, in February, urged the Tunisian authorities to release Mr Hamadi Jebali, editor of the weekly Al-Fajr, and all prisoners like him held for their religious and political beliefs and who never advocated or used violence.
Yours sincerely,
ARTICLE 19, UK
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR)
Index on Censorship, UK
International Publishers’ Association (IPA), Switzerland
Journaliste en danger (JED), Democratic Republic of Congo
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Namibia
Norwegian PEN
World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC), USA
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
World Association of Newspapers (WAN)
Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC)
