(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested the Tunisian Supreme Court’s confirmation on 2 September 2002 of Hamma Hammami’s three-year and two-month prison sentence for “subversion”. Hammami is leader of the Tunisian Communist Workers’ Party (PCOT) and managing editor of the party newspaper, “El-Badil”. “We are appalled by this decision, which demonstrates the determination of President Zine […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested the Tunisian Supreme Court’s confirmation on 2 September 2002 of Hamma Hammami’s three-year and two-month prison sentence for “subversion”. Hammami is leader of the Tunisian Communist Workers’ Party (PCOT) and managing editor of the party newspaper, “El-Badil”.
“We are appalled by this decision, which demonstrates the determination of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali’s regime to silence all opposition voices,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “The rules for a fair trial have not been respected from the very beginning. This is shameful. The Tunisian authorities no longer even bother with formalities when punishing opposition figures.” Ménard called on the president to release Hammami “immediately and unconditionally,” noting that he had done nothing more than exercise his right to free expression.
Sitting in camera, the Supreme Court took only a few minutes to reject Hammami’s appeal of his sentence. His lawyers and two foreign observers were not allowed to attend the hearing.
On 2 February, in a trial marked by many irregularities, the Tunis First Instance Tribunal sentenced Hammami and two of his associates, Abdeljabar Madouri and Samir Taamallah, to nine years’ imprisonment. The three men had emerged from four years in hiding that same day. On 30 March, a Tunis court revised Hammami’s sentence on appeal to three years and two months’ imprisonment. Madouri received a three-year and nine-month sentence, while Taamallah was jailed for one year and nine months. They were each found guilty of belonging to and operating an illegal organisation (the PCOT), distributing leaflets, distributing false news, holding illegal meetings and inciting rebellion and lawbreaking.
