(HRinfo/IFEX) – On 7 May 2006, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) condemned Tunisian security forces for detaining journalist and human rights activist Naziha Rajiba (who writes under the pseudonym Om Zied), at the Tunisian airport for four hours, and for confiscating personal documents and an HRinfo study she was then carrying. Rajiba […]
(HRinfo/IFEX) – On 7 May 2006, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) condemned Tunisian security forces for detaining journalist and human rights activist Naziha Rajiba (who writes under the pseudonym Om Zied), at the Tunisian airport for four hours, and for confiscating personal documents and an HRinfo study she was then carrying.
Rajiba was returning from Cairo, where she participated in a conference commemorating World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, entitled “What do Arabs lose from continuing to penalize with imprisonment in publishing cases”, organised by the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), HRinfo, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), the New York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and the Egyptian Press Syndicate.
On 4 May, members of the Tunisian security forces stopped Rajiba at the airport for four hours. Security officers tried to confiscate from her the book “The Authorized Biography of Nelson Mandela”. They also confiscated a study prepared by HRinfo on the fabrication of sexual cases against journalists and activists in Egypt, Tunisia, and Bahrain, in addition to other personal documents.
“It is a farce that the Tunisian government nominates itself to become a member of the newly established UN Human Rights Council at the same time that it continues to harass human rights activists and confiscate their personal papers,” said Sally Sami, HRinfo program coordinator.
It is expected that elections for the UN Human Rights Council will be held on 9 May.
“The international community should hold the Tunisian government accountable for its oppressive behavior towards journalists and human rights activists, instead of giving it a seat in the UN HRC,” Sami added.
Rajiba is a member of HRinfo’s consultative board and has been the victim of a smear campaign by Tunisian authorities. The last such operation targeted Rajiba’s family.
