Tunisia: Attack against human rights defender Radhia Nasraoui

Your Excellency,

I am deeply concerned following reports of an attack against human rights defender Radhia Nasraoui by approximately thirty police officers on 18 April 2008. Radhia Nasraoui is a human rights lawyer and works to defend the victims of human rights violations. She is also the President of the Association de lutte contre la torture en Tunisie (Association against torture in Tunisia).

On 18 April 2008, at approximately 10.00am, Radhia Nasraoui went to the offices of the Administration of Prisons in Tunis to submit an official request for authorisation to visit two of her clients currently in prison. One of these is the journalist Slim Boukhdhir who was sentenced to one year in prison following an unfair trial. He is currently detained in Sfax Prison. Radhia Nasraoui was attempting to enter the building when she was attacked by approximately 30 police officers. She was subject to physical and verbal abuse by the officers who surrounded her, pushing her and preventing her from entering the offices. She was forced to retreat to her car and was pursued by police in cars until she reached her home.

This latest attack on Radhia Nasraoui is part of an ongoing pattern of harassment seeking to prevent her from working as a human rights lawyer. Throughout her career, Radhia Nasraoui has been the subject of police aggression and has suffered several brutal physical attacks. In addition, her home is under regular surveillance and her telephone and email correspondence is monitored and often intercepted by the authorities. The members of her family are also the victims of harassment and several of her clients have reported being advised by members of the police not to consult her services and have been prevented from travelling abroad.

I am concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Radhia Nasraoui, as well as that of her family and her clients.

I urge the Tunisian authorities to:

1. Initiate an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the attack against Radhia Nasraoui, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice;

2. Take measures to guarantee that, where necessary, Radhia Nasraoui is permitted to request official authorisation to visit her clients;

3. Take necessary measures to end all forms of harassment against Radhia Nasraoui, as well as against the members of her family, her associates and her clients;

4. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Tunisia, including lawyers such as Radhia Nasraoui, are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

Yours sincerely,