(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – According to information received by ARTICLE 19 from the Arab Program for Human Rights and Amnesty International, Omer Al Mistiri, general secretary of the National Council for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT), and Moncef Marzouki, former president of the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH), have been charged with the following: a. being members […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – According to information received by ARTICLE 19 from the
Arab Program for Human Rights and Amnesty International, Omer Al Mistiri,
general secretary of the National Council for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT),
and Moncef Marzouki, former president of the Tunisian Human Rights League
(LTDH), have been charged with the following:
a. being members of an unauthorised association
b. distribution of illegal leaflets, the content of which undermine public
order
c. insulting the authorities
d. holding unauthorised meetings.
The investigating magistrate in Al Mistiri’s case will hold the next hearing
on 3 July 1999. In the meantime, Al Mistiri has been ordered not to leave
the capital. This restriction is causing severe problems for him, as he
works outside Tunis.
ARTICLE 19 is convinced that the authorities’ continuing harassment of Al
Mistiri and Marzouki is connected to their legitimate human rights
activities.
The charges brought against al Mistiri and Marzouki relate to the fact that
the government has refused to register the CNLT and therefore regard
membership or association with the organisation as illegal. This is in clear
breach of Article 22 of the ICCPR states that “everyone shall have the right
to freedom of association with others.” Any official registration required
should be a formality, restricted to technical detail such as address and
principal contacts and the Tunisian government should in no way interfere
with the workings of the organisation.
Tunisia’s human rights situation has been the subject of some concern to the
European Parliament, which passed a resolution in 1996 noting “consternation
about the persecution of members of the political opposition and their
families…[and] the absence of press freedom.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
breach Tunisia’s formal obligations to uphold human rights and freedom of
expression under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, which Tunisia ratified in 1968, and in the context of its
membership of the European-Mediterranean Partnership, as well as as a
signatory to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights
clear breach of Article 22 of the ICCPR, which states that “everyone shall
have the right to freedom of association with others”
Council
for Liberties in Tunisia should be a formality, restricted to technical
detail such as address and principal contacts and the Tunisian government
should in no way interfere with the workings of the organisation
Appeals To
President Zein Al Abidine Ben Ali
Presidency Palace
Tunis/Carthage
Tunisia
Fax: +21617 42 51 3 / + 21617 44 72 1 / + 21617 31 00 6M. Abdallah Kallel
Justice Minister
31 Boulevard Bab Benat
1006 Tunis Tunisia
Fax: + 216 1 568 106Send copies to:
Program For Human Rights Activists – Cairo
31 Abdellah Al Arabi St.
Via Tyran / Nasr City
Cairo, Egypt
Fax: +202 401 55 05
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
