Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the ill-treatment of human rights defender Slim Boukhdir while in detention. Slim Boukhdir was arrested on 26 November 2007 and on 18 January 2008 he was sentenced to one year's imprisonment. He is currently detained in Sfax prison, 230 kilometres south of Tunis. 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.

Further Information

Posted 29/05/2008 Slim Boukhdir was arrested on 26 November 2007 during an identity check on taxi passengers travelling from Sfax to Tunis. Throughout the case, he was refused bail and on 18 January 2008, he was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for “insulting an official carrying out his duties”, “bad behaviour”, and “refusing to present documents of identification”.

Slim Boukhdir has been the subject of ill-treatment while in detention. He is being detained in unsanitary conditions and has been denied access to a shower for the last month and a half. As a result, Slim Boukhdir has contracted scabies and the medication that he has been given by the prison authorities has not been sufficient to cure it. He has initiated a hunger strike in order to protest at these living conditions. In addition, according to Slim Boukhdir's wife, Dalenda Boukhdir, the prison authorities are stealing from the provisions that she is bringing to her husband every week. His lawyer has also been prevented from seeing him and on 25 April 2008, his mother and wife were denied their right to visit him.

Front Line believes that the arrest and detention of Slim Boukhdir is a direct result of his legitimate work in the defence of human rights. Furthermore, Front Line is concerned for the security and physical and psychological integrity of Slim Boukhdir while in detention.