Tunisia: Assault on Ali Ben Salem

Your Excellency

I am deeply concerned by the assault, on 20 December 2007, of 75 year-old human rights defender Ali Ben Salem. Ali Ben Salem is a founding member of several human rights organisations in Tunisia, including the National Human Rights Council (Conseil National pour les Libertés en Tunisie, CNLT) and the National Association of Former Members of the Resistance (Amicale Nationale des Anciens Résistants, ANAR). He is also President of the Bizerte chapter of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l'Homme, LTDH).

Early in the morning of 20 December, 2007, approximately 60 police officers surrounded the home of Ali Ben Salem. When some friends arrived to visit Ali Ben Salem on the occasion of the holiday of Eid, the police attempted to prevent them entering the house by force. Ali Ben Salem was pushed by the officers, causing him to fall. He was then allegedly stepped on by officers and his glasses were broken. These incidents were witnessed by chiefs of both the Sector and the District of Bizerte, who were reportedly present at the scene.

Ali Ben Salem was then brought by his friends to the Bougatfa hospital, reportedly while followed by approximately 20 police agents. The doctor who examined him reportedly received a phone call from the Governor of Bizerte, who ordered him to ensure that Ali Ben Salem behave himself. Although the doctor recorded evidence of injuries to Ali Ben Salem's head, back and shoulders, he did not admit him to the hospital.

Ali Ben Salem has been a victim of harrassment by authorities since 2000. In April of that year, he was assaulted by Tunisian police officers, resulting in a broken shoulder. His family and friends have often been prevented from entering his home, which is in the same building as the Bizerte chapter of the LTDH. Since November 2005, agents of the police and security forces have been an almost permanent presence outside the home of Ali Ben Salem. In June 2006, he was arrested for several hours and charged with “spreading false information likely to undermine the public order” after issuing a press release condemning the use of torture at the Borj Erroumi prison. In July 2006, Ali Ben Salem, who suffers from a serious heart disease, had to be taken to the hospital after being roughly jostled by police officers who had surrounded the Bizerte office of the LTDH to prevent a meeting.

Following this most recent incident, I fear for the safety and health of Ali Ben Salem and believe that the presence of police and security agents at his home and his recent assault may form part of an ongoing campaign against human rights defenders in Tunisia.

I urge the Tunisian authorities to:

1.Cease all harassment of Ali Ben Salem as it is believed that his treatment by authorities is a direct result of his legitimate non-violent human rights work;

2.Initiate an immediate and objective investigation into the incidents of 20 December, 2007;

3.Refrain from the imposition of unreasonable restriction of the movements of members of NGOs in Tunisia and respect the right to freedom of expression;

4.Ensure that all human rights defenders in Tunisia are free to carry out their legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights, without fear of intimidation or reprisal.

Yours sincerely