PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

Tunis – on 08 October 2020. Following the violence perpetrated yesterday by the police against the citizens who took part in the peaceful protest which took place in front of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, a protest the aim of which was to express the rejection of the law project on the repression of attacks against the armed forces and to call on deputies not to ratify it; and in reaction to the arrest of several civil society activists, the signatory associations denounce and strongly condemn such violence and rights’ violations. The latter carries indeed a whiff of a not so distant past that we thought over thanks to the Revolution of Dignity.

Moreover, the associations condemn all messages of violence, hatred and harassment published on social networks by individuals who do not conceal their affiliation with the security services, targeting activists who took part in the demonstration; but also, the smear campaigns directed against certain journalists who covered human rights violations perpetrated by security services.

The signatory associations remind the leaders of the executive power that the right to demonstrate is guaranteed by the Tunisian Constitution and that the State has the obligation to protect the dignity of individuals. In addition, the flagrant encroachments on human rights that took place in front of the ARP and the violent attacks against peaceful demonstrators support the signatory associations in their position of rejecting the law project and consolidate their commitment to implement the reforms necessary to establish the rule of law, the institutions and a republican security system. In that sense, they demand the accountability and the punishment of the security assaulters so that impunity will not be perpetuated.

1. Forum Tunisien des Droits Économiques et Sociaux
2. Association Tunisienne des Femmes Démocrates
3. Damj, l’Association Tunisienne pour la Justice et L’égalité
4.  Association Tunisienne de défense des libertés individuelles
5. Avocats Sans Frontières
6. Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture
7. Organisation Contre la Torture en Tunisie
8. I Watch
9. OXFAM
10. Association Tunisienne de Lutte Contre les MST et le sida (ATL MST SIDA)
11. International Alert
12. Association No Peace No Justice
13. Euromed Droits
14. Fanni Roghman Anni
15. Association Al-Karama
16. Mobdiun
17. Association pour la Promotion du Droit à la Différence
18. Mawjoudin
19. Democratic Transition & Human Rights Support Center
20. Access Now
21. Shams
22. Free Sight Association
23.  Association Tunisienne de Prévention Positive
24. Calam
25.  Association Internationale pour le Soutien des Prisonniers Politiques
26. Al Karama
27. Coordination nationale indépendante de la justice transitionnelle
28. Psychologues Du Monde- Tunisie
29. Legal Agenda
30. Association des Femmes Tunisiennes pour la Recherche sur le Développement