Human rights defender Mr Omar Mestiri was arbitrarily arrested and violently beaten before being abandoned in Tunis' outskirts today, 16 November 2009. Omar Mestiri is managing editor of the web newspaper Kalima and member of the Conseil National pour les Libertés en Tunisie (CNLT).

Further Information

On 16 November 2009, around midday, Omar Mestiri was going to the law firm of Abderraouf Ayadi when he was stopped and assaulted on the street, in front of Ayadi's law firm, by a group of individuals. Witnesses recognised them as members of the political police. The officers hit Oman Mestiri repeatedly, then pushed him inside their vehicle and left for an unknown location. Mr Ayadi witnessed the events from the balcony of his law firm and gave the alarm. Omar Mestiri was later abandoned by his captors about 15 kilometres away from Tunis. The attackers confiscated his mobile phone. Omar Mestiri was injured as a result of the assault.

For the past three days, Omar Mestiri reported being constantly followed by a man on a motorbike as well as a car. This makes it likely that today's assault and arbitrary arrest had been planned.

This most recent attack follows several other instances of assault, arrest, harassment and intimidation against independent journalists and human rights defenders, which have intensified after the reelection of Mr Zine el-Abidine Bel Ali as president of Tunisia on 25 October 2009. The most recent examples include the arrest on 29 October of journalist Mr Taoufik Ben Brik, who now faces a possible sentence of up to three years in prison as well as the abduction and beating on 28 October of Mr Slim Boukhdir, journalist and founder of Liberté et Équité. The same day, unknown individuals tried to force the door of another journalist, Mr Moudi Zouabi. On 20 October, journalist and human rights defender Ms Sihem Bensedrine was assaulted and Ms Radhia Nasraoui, president of Association Tunisienne de Lutte contre la Torture (ALTT) was blocked at the airport and notified a travel ban. President Bel Ali had announced measures “against anyone who will accuse or cast doubts over the electoral process without providing concrete evidence”.

Front Line is concerned at the assault and arbitrary arrest of Omar Mestiri, and his physical and psychological integrity. Front Line is troubled by the deteriorating situation of human rights defenders in Tunisia.

Front Line urges the Tunisian authorities to:

1. Immediately carry out an independent and impartial investigation into the assault and arbitrary arrest of Omar Mestiri, with a view to publish the results and bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international standards;

2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee Omar Mestiri's physical and psychological integrity;

3. Ensure that in all circumstances, human rights defenders and organisations in Tunisia can carry out their legitimate activities free of reprisals and harassment.