Le TMG de l’IFEX condamne l’adoption d’une nouvelle loi contre les critiques du gouvernement IFEX-TMG condemns adoption of new law against government critics IPI condemns passage of act targeting free flow of information
CPJ calls on Tunisian president not to sign unconstitutional amendment to penal code AFP: Tunisie: plusieurs organisations réclament l’abrogation d’une loi Xinhua: La Tunisie rejette fermement les condamnations d’Amnesty international Abdel Wahab Hani: Aïd / Retornado Si Adel Ghannouchi rentre à Tunis après deux décennies de privation
Le TMG de l’IFEX condamne l’adoption d’une nouvelle loi contre les critiques du gouvernement
IFEX-TMG condemns adoption of new law against government critics
18 June 2010 SOURCE: IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG) – 18 June 2010 – The International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), a coalition of 20 IFEX members, condemns the adoption by the Tunisian Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday of a new law hastily tailored to stifle freedom of expression both inside and outside Tunisia and to threaten government critics with heavy jail sentences. The new legislation amends Article 61a of the penal code, which currently imposes jail sentences from five to 12 years for contacting « agents of a foreign power to undermine the military or diplomatic situation in Tunisia. » The amendment stipulates that any Tunisian who establishes « contacts with agents of a foreign power or a foreign organisation » to harm « Tunisia’s vital interests » and its « economic security » will be sanctioned, reported the official news agency TAP on Tuesday. However, IFEX-TMG members are concerned that this law, as drafted, will stifle legitimate political and social protest. Any restrictions on freedom of expression should not be vaguely drafted and should be proportionate to the legitimate aim pursued – protecting national security. Local and international human rights groups expressed their deep concern in May when the Tunisian cabinet headed by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali announced the draft law. It appeared to be created in reaction to calls by Tunisian human rights defenders for the European Union (EU) to tie Tunisia’s promotion to an « advanced status » with the EU to the improvement of its alarming human rights record. Article 2 of the 1995 association agreement between Tunisia and the EU stipulates that respect for democratic principles and fundamental rights guide the two parties’ domestic and international policies. « The Tunisian parliament would pass any draft law presented by the government; whatever problems it would create for the country and the people. The legislative branch is a tool to serve the President’s interests and silence his critics, » said Mokhtar Yahyaoui, a former judge constantly harassed since he sent a letter in 2001 to President Ben Ali to urge him to protect the independence of the judiciary. The adoption of the new legislation occurred amid a smear media campaign orchestrated by the government against vocal human rights defenders who recently met with European Union officials. The Tunisian human rights defenders solely called on their European interlocutors to remind their Tunisian partners of the urgent need to abide by their human rights obligations, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Association agreement with the European Union. « We are increasingly concerned about the intensifying war on freedom of expression and the safety of Tunisian human rights defenders and critical journalists after the adoption of this shameful law, » said IFEX-TMG Chair Rohan Jayasekera of Index on Censorship. « The time has come for the friends and partners of the Tunisian government in the European Union and elsewhere to intercede to end the use of the legislative and judicial branches to stifle freedom of expression and punish democracy advocates. » On 6 June 2010 in Beirut, Lebanon, IFEX-TMG members launched a report on the fact-finding mission to Tunisia (25 April – 6 May 2010) titled « Behind the Façade: How a Politicised Judiciary and Administrative Sanctions Undermine Human Rights. » Click here to read the report: ifextmgmissionreport_jun2010.pdf (829 KB) For more information: IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group Rohan Jayasekera, Chair c/o Index on Censorship London United Kingdom rj (@) indexoncensorship.org Phone: +44 20 7324 2522 IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group http://ifex.org/tunisia/tmg/ Arabic Network for Human Rights Information ARTICLE 19: Global Campaign for Free Expression Bahrain Center for Human Rights Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies Canadian Journalists for Free Expression Cartoonists Rights Network International Egyptian Organization for Human Rights Index on Censorship International Federation of Journalists International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions International PEN Writers in Prison Committee International Press Institute International Publishers Association Journaliste en danger Maharat Foundation (Skills Foundation) Media Institute of Southern Africa Norwegian PEN World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers World Press Freedom Committee
IPI condemns passage of act targeting free flow of information
17 June 2010 SOURCE: International Press Institute (IPI/IFEX) – VIENNA, 16 June: The Tunisian Chamber of Deputies yesterday passed a new law under which press freedom activists and other human rights defenders could find themselves jailed for up to 12 years in times « of war » – and five in peace time- if they lobby against Tunisia’s economic interests. The act amends Article 61 bis. of the Tunisian penal code, which already punishes « anyone who has undertaken, by any means whatsoever, to undermine the integrity of the Tunisian territory or has met agents of a foreign power, the purpose or the result of which is to undermine the military or diplomatic situation of Tunisia. » The new provision penalizes anyone who « deliberately contacts foreign sides » to harm Tunisia’s vital interests, which were expanded to include economic interests, according to a report from Agence Tunis Afrique Press (TAP), Tunisia’s official news agency. « It is believed that the law was created in direct response to the activities of a number of human rights defenders, who recently lobbied the European Union against granting ‘advanced status’ to Tunisia unless it honours its national and international human rights commitments. » « IPI is concerned that this law was created to punish journalists and human rights activists, » said IPI Director David Dadge. « If it is in Tunisia’s national interest to improve its economic relations with Europe, then Tunisia should align its own policies with the human rights requirements in its Association Agreement with the EU. What it should not do is to accuse Tunisian citizens of treason simply because they want their government to uphold the standards to which it is committed. » « This law is now a new sword of Damocles on the head of human rights defenders, free writers and journalists, » said Sihem Bensedrine in an email to IPI. Bensedrine, who participated in a lobbying mission to the EU in May this year, heads Tunisia’s independent Radio Kalima and is Secretary General of the Tunisian free press group OLPEC. « Some officials have already called in their campaigns for the withdrawal of nationality and the imprisonment of some defenders, as ‘criminals.' » Bensedrine said that while the law will not deter her or others from defending freedom in Tunisia or conducting advocacy campaigns, « the price is now higher. » She added: « Tunisia’s partners and in particular the EU should react strongly. » IPI participated in a joint fact-finding mission to Tunisia earlier this year. Download the final mission report from the Tunisia Monitoring Group, a coalition of 20 members of IFEX, including IPI: TMGMissionReport_June2010_01.pdf (847 KB)
Committee to Protect Journalists 330 7th Avenue, 11th Fl., New York , NY 10001 USA Phone: (212) 465‑1004 Fax: (212) 465‑9568 Web: www.cpj.org E-Mail: info@cpj.org
Contact:
Mohamed Abdel Dayem, program coordinator
Phone: (212) 465-1004, x103; E-mail: m.abdel.dayem@cpj.org
Arabic version will be available in 24 hours onhttp://cpj.org/ar/
http://cpj.org/ar/ النسخة العربية من هذا البيان متاحة بعد 24 ساعة على
CPJ calls on Tunisian president not to sign unconstitutional amendment to penal code
New York June 17, 2010—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the adoption by the Tunisian Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday of a bill that reinforces an existing arsenal of legislation used to silence critical journalists. President Ben Ali is expected to sign the bill after its anticipated approval by the Chamber of Councilors. The change is unconstitutional since it violates freedom of expression as guaranteed by Tunisian constitution, according to CPJ research.
Under the bill, which amends Article 61a of the penal code, any Tunisian who establishes “contacts with agents of a foreign power or a foreign organization with a view to inciting them to harm the vital interests” of Tunisia and its “economic security” will be sanctioned, the official news agency, TAP,reported on Wednesday. Sanctions vary from five years in prison in times of peace to 12 years in times of war, lawyers told CPJ.
“We are alarmed by the continued escalation of the war on free expression in Tunisia and are concerned about the well-being of our colleagues, who are among the prime targets for this restrictive bill,” said Mohamed Abdel Dayem , CPJ program coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa . “We call on President Ben Ali, who has repeatedly demonstrated his control over all branches of government, to abide by international standards for freedom of expression and not sign this legislation into law.”
The bill was rapidly approved by the lower chamber of parliament, which is controlled by President Ben Ali’s ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally, at a time when government critics are targeted by a state-backed smear campaign echoed by the state-run media, according to CPJ research. Journalists recently called on the European Union not to grant Tunisia “advanced [trading] status” unless it takes concrete steps toward improving its human rights record, particularly with regard to silencing dissent.
“This bill and its vague provisions would constitute a major threat to fundamental rights, particularly freedom of expression and opinion,” Mokhtar Trifi, president of the Tunisian League for Human Rights, the first of its kind in the Arab world and among the most harassed NGOs in the country, told CPJ. “It’s rather catastrophic to see Tunisians still denied the right to discuss any important issue.”
Attacks on independent journalists intensified in tenor and frequency immediately following the fifth-term reelection of Ben Ali in October 2009 with nearly 90 percent of the vote. Two critical journalists,Taoufik Ben Brik andZouhair Makhlouf, have been jailed for six and four months, respectively, for their work. Next week, an appeals court in the southern city of Gafsa will consider whether to uphold afour-year jail term handed to journalist Fahem Boukadous for covering social protests in 2008. Furthermore, over the past months, Slim Bagga, Sihem Bensedrine, and Taoufik Ben Brik, all prominent critical journalists, have been referred to as “traitors” by the state-run media and have consequently received death threats, according to CPJ research.
Tunisie: plusieurs organisations réclament l’abrogation d’une loi
La Tunisie rejette fermement les condamnations d’Amnesty international
Aïd / Retornado Si Adel Ghannouchi rentre à Tunis après deux décennies de privation
Par : Abdel Wahab Hani Notre ami, Aïd / Retornado Si Adel Ghannouchi s’est envolé ce midi 19 juin 2010, Paris vers Tunis, à bord du vol TU 719 de Tunis Air, en partance de Paris Orly vers Tunis Carthage.
Il a été accueilli à sa descente d’avion par une centaine d’amis et de proches. Il s’est tout de suite dirige vers la Cite Al-Omrane au chevet de sa maman souffrante.
Aïd / Retornado Adel Ghannouchi rentre à Tunis muni d’un laissez-passer pour la Tunisie après une absence de deux décennies.
Nos félicitations les plus sincères à notre Aïd / Retornado, dans l’espoir qu’il puisse obtenir son passeport tunisien à Tunis et qu’il puisse remplacer à sa maman et à ses proches et bamis les décennies de privation et de souffrances. Notre Aïd / Retornado s’est exprimé auparavant devant la caméra de AÏDOUN / RETORNADOS, et a répondu a nos questions a nous Aïd / Retornado AW Hani et Aïd / Retornado Abdejlil Saidi, sur les souffrances endurées par sa famille, sur son parcours et ses idées pacifiques et son rejet de la violence dans la gestion et la conduite des conflits politiques. Nous avions souhaité qu’il rentre muni de son passeport tunisien, mais le devoir familial, sacré, auprès de sa maman Wa Birr Al Walidayn (برّ الوالدين ) nous impose aujourd’hui de saluer son Retour et de remercier toux ceux qui l’ont rendu possible, même sous sa forme incomplète. Aïd / Retornado Si Adel Ghannouchi trace ainsi une ligne de Responsabilité et d’Ethique dans le dossier du Retour des Exilés et des Immigrés tunisiens ( Allaji’ine wa Al-moghtaribine) (اللاّجئون والمغتربون ) et non les Déportés (المُهَجَّرُون) comme se plaisent à le répéter pompeusement certains manipulateurs de la souffrance humaine.
Nous devons tous nous incliner devant son courage et son sens aigu des responsabilités loin des sirènes de la haine et des guerres saintes virtuelles livrées a force de violentes frappes sur des claviers totalement déconnectés de la réalité.
Bon retour cher Aïd / Retornado Genève, le 18 juin 2010
Aïd / Retornado, Bi Idhni Allah Aabba Al Mouhibboun Wa Kariha Al Krihoun
Abdel Wahab Hani
awhani@yahooo.fr +33 6 17 96 00 37
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