Brutal assault of Tunisian human rights defender

Samia Abbou, wife of eminent lawyer and human rights defender, Mohammed Abbou, was subjected to a brutal assault on 7 December. She and three other leading Tunisian human rights defenders were attacked and beaten outside El Kef prison, near Tunis, by a group of about forty men in civilian clothing.

Samia Abbou traveled to El Kef to visit her imprisoned husband with human rights defenders; Moncef Marzouki, former president of the National Committee for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT) and the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH) Salim Boukhdhir, a well known Journalist and Samir ben Amor, founding member of the International Association for the Support of Political Prisoner. According to reports, police stopped the car in which they were traveling on a number of occasions throughout the journey to El Kef and were present outside the prison at the time of the assault.

Samia Abbou has actively campaigned for her husband's release and has publicly criticised his ill treatment whilst in prison. She recently staged a hunger strike and has organised weekly protests outside El Kef prison. These protests have resulted in routine harassment from the security forces and her movements are under constant surveillance.

Front Line has followed the case of Mohammed Abbou since his arrest on 1 March 2005. He is serving a three and a half years sentence. He was charged for publishing an online newspaper, in which he criticized Tunisian prisons, comparing them to Abu Ghraib. Reportedly, he is at risk of ill treatment and has staged a number of hunger strikes in protest against his treatment.

Front Line is deeply concerned for the health and safety of Samia Abbou. Front Line urges the authorities to carry out an immediate and impartial investigation into the ongoing intimidation of Samia Abbou, including the attack that she and Moncef Marzouki, Salim Boukhdhir, and Samir ben Amor suffered. Front Line calls on the authorities to publish these results and bring those responsible to justice.