Najet Laabidi

On 8 November 2011, human rights defender and lawyer Ms Najet Laabidi was subjected to a barrage of verbal abuse and threats from the relatives of those former officials currently being tried before a military court in Tunis on charges of torturing political prisoners during the rule of the former Tunisian President Ben Ali.

The threats and abuse, which took place in front of those attending the hearing, were believed to be solely motivated by Najet Laabidi's role as legal representative of the alleged victims of torture in what is known as the "Barakat al Sahel" case.

Najet Laabidi is a member of the executive bureau of Tunisian human rights group Liberté Equité.

The military police were not initially able to stop the abuse, but subsequently asked those involved to leave the court room. They asked Najet Laabidi to remain in the court room until all those present, including the perpetrators of the abuse, had left. The police also offered to escort her home but she declined the offer. The case has been adjourned until 23 November.

Najet Laabidi received several anonymous phone calls during the pre-trial investigation stage of the case demanding that she discontinue her representation of the victims. The investigating magistrate working on the case was also threatened for pursuing the case.

Front Line believes that the threats and abuse were meant to intimidate Najet Laabidi and prevent her from carrying out her legitimate work in the defence of human rights, particularly the provision of legal representation to victims of human rights violations. Front Line is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity and security of Najet Laabidi.