Tunisia: Alongside a world summit, the police ban a gathering of international and Tunisian associations

November 14 2005 The Tunisian authorities prevented Tunisian and foreign associations to hold a meeting in order to prepare an event within the World Summit on the Information Society on the morning of 14th November. This was a preparatory meeting for the “Citizen’s Summit on the Information Society” to debate the topics mentioned within the agenda of the WSIS, which is sponsored by the United Nations.

Over fifty plain clothes policemen physically blocked access to the Goethe Institute – the German cultural center – where the meeting was to take place. The policemen violently shoved the participants who attempted to get to the meeting place, without identifying themselves or providing a reason, forcing the participants to leave. Among the participants who were forced to leave were Souhayr Belhassen, the Vice President of the Tunisian Human Rights League, Sihem Bensedrine, Omar Mestiri and Om Zied from the National Council on Liberties in Tunisia (which is not recognized by the authorities), Mahmoud Dahouadi, a member of the Tunisian Journalists Union (also not recognized by the authorities), as well as some representatives from international organizations, such as the Federation Internationale de la Ligue des Droits de l’Homme (Paris), Human Rights Watch (New York), Front Line (Dublin), World Association for Community Radio Broadcasters (Montreal), Association for Progressive Communication (Johannesburg) and the Human Rights Caucus for the World Summit on the Information Society.

The under-signed associations deplore this repeated violation of the right to assemble in Tunisia. It is all the more regrettable to see that the Tunisian authorities violate this right when Tunisia hosts the WSIS, a global UN event that is supposed to promote access to information.

Front Line Andrew Anderson

Conseil National des Libertés en Tunisie Sihem Bensedrine

International Fereration for Human rights Antoine Madellin

Human Rights Watch Eric Goldstein

Ligue Tunisienne de défense des droits de l’Homme Souhayr Belhassen

World Association for Community Radio Broadcasters Steve Buckley