Radhia Nasraoui on Hunger Strike in Tunisia, December 2003
Radhia Nasraoui, Human Rights Defender and lawyer from Tunisia ended her hunger strike on 10th December, after 56 days. As a result of her action, there has been some movement on the investigation into the incident in July where she was assaulted. Equipment, books and files that were taken from her office have been returned and the telephone line to her sister, her daughter and her aunt in Paris has been reconnected. Radhia is recovering well and expects to be back working in defence of human rights again as soon as possible.
She went on hunger strike on Wednesday, 15th October. Ms Nasraoui is a prominent member of the Tunisian bar who has represented many political clients. As a result she has been under constant pressure from the Tunisian authorities. The purpose of her hunger strike was to protest the harassment she faces as she tries to carry out her work, which she says has become intolerable.
Irish MEP Pronsias de Rossa addressed the European Parliament on Radhia’s behalf. Ms. Hina Jilani, UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, expressed profound concern about the threats Radhia faces.
In an article in the French newspaper Le Monde, Radhia explains that the authorities are making it impossible for her to work. For many years pressure was put on her clients not to retain her as a lawyer now the authorities are going so far as to put pressure on her clients who are incarcerated to change their legal representation. The police in the administration of the prison are going into the jail to see her clients systematically. These officials are important personalities in the administration, both in political cases and in common cases and they are tying to coerce Ms Nasraoui’s clients to change their lawyer.
Ms Nasraoui’s offices are under constant surveillance. Her mail and her telephone calls are regularly monitored. Her telephone calls to and from certain numbers have been blocked. For this reason she can no longer telephone her sister, her daughter or her aunt in Paris. Her office has been searched and equipment and confidential documents relating to her clients have been seized. Whenever she travels abroad customs officials use it an opportunity to confiscate more documents. Ms Nasraoui’s brother has been stopped from working. Some years ago, when her husband, Hamma Hammami was in hiding, policemen told Ms Nasraoui’s brother that he couldn’t work until he told them where Mr. Hammami was. From that day he has had problems. One day he is told that he can work and then later he is told that he cannot work. Radhia was assaulted by police on 13th July. She went to a tea party to mark the anniversary of a young association of poets and writers. The tea party was in the house of the president of the association, Mr Jalloul Azouna. Between thirty and forty policemen arrived and said everybody had to leave and little groups went one by one. Radhia decided to stay with the Mr Azouna who had been a client of hers. The police told Mr Azouna that Ms Nasraoui could not be in his house and he replied that she was a family friend and a lawyer. Ms Nasraoui told him that she would go because she didn’t want any trouble and she said nothing to the police. Suddenly there was a rush and the police took her by the arm, pulled at her and pushed her to the ground. She obtained a certificate from the local hospital which documented her injuries from this aggressive behaviour. On 15th July she submitted a complaint to the tribunal but has heard nothing to date.
Ms Nasraoui is being personally supported by the President of the Tunisian Bar Association, Béchir Essid, who was himself assaulted last May. She is also being supported by members of the Tunisian Bar and by the Tunisian Human Rights League (Ligue Tunisienne de défense des droits de l’Homme, (LTDH).