Tunisia: Release of human rights defender Slim Boukhdir

Front Line welcomes the release of human rights defender and journalist Slim Boukhdir on 21 July 2008. Slim Boukhdir was arrested on 26 November 2007 and sentenced to one year's imprisonment on 18 January 2008. He was detained in Sfax prison, 230 kilometres south of Tunis. His release comes four months before the end of his sentence.

Further Information

Posted 24/07/2008 Slim Boukhdir is a correspondent with the London-based pan-Arab newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi and the website of the satellite news channel Al-Arabiya. He also writes for other news websites, including Tunisnews and Kantara.

Front Line issued an urgent action on 29 May 2008, calling for his release and expressing concern with regard to the reported ill-treatment and poor conditions to which Slim Boukhdir was subject during his detention. On his release, he thanked the international community for their support, which had kept his “spirits up high” despite the hardship he was facing.