Jul 26, 2013 | News
The ICJ today called on the Tunisian authorities to conduct an investigation into the targeted assassination of Mohamed Brahmi, a prominent opposition figure and member of the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly.
The investigation should be prompt, thorough, independent and transparent, with a view to holding the perpetrators to account.
This killing came less than six months after the assassination of another opposition figure, Chokri Belaid.
The ICJ is deeply concerned that these assassinations are part of a large campaign of intimidation against opposition figures, human rights defenders, including lawyers and judges. Many of them were subject to death threats. For example, in May 2013, Justice Kalthoum Kennou, a Tunisian judge on the Court of Cassation and ICJ Commissioner received an anonymous letter threatening her with death and ordering her to quit the judiciary.
“The Tunisian authorities must fully and promptly investigate the assassination of Mohamed Brahmi and ensure that the perpetrators are criminally held to account”, said Said Benarbia Senior Legal Advisor of the ICJ’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. “Tunisian authorities must also take all effective measures to end all forms of intimidation against opposition members, human rights defenders and judges, including by ensuring their security and physical integrity”, he added.
The ICJ also called on the Tunisian authorities to respect and protect the right of individuals to peaceful assembly and refrain from any unlawful use of force against them.
Mohamed Brahmi – Press Statement (ENG – Full Text in PDF)
May 3, 2013 | Advocacy, News
Today, the ICJ sent a letter to the Tunisian Minister of Interior and the Minister of Justice requesting them to take immediate action in order to ensure the security and physical integrity of Justice Kalthoum Kennou.
Justice Kalthoum Kennou is a Tunisian judge on the Court of Cassation, President of the Tunisian Association of Magistrates, and ICJ Commissioner.
This call comes as Justice Kennou received a letter containing serious death threats, demanding her withdrawal from the judiciary. Justice Kennou is active in the establishment of an independent judiciary and the protection of human rights.
The ICJ strongly condemns these threats and all acts of intimidation against the judiciary and human rights defenders in Tunisia, and calls on the Tunisian authorities to initiate the necessary investigations and inquiries in order to find, prosecute, and punish the individuals behind these brutal threats.
Tunisia-Lettre Kalthoum Kennou – MoI-advocacy-2013 (full text in pdf)
Aug 6, 2012 | News
The ICJ deplores the unilateral decision of the Tunisian Minister of Justice to summarily dismiss over 70 judges.
Apr 18, 2012 | News
The ICJ today called upon the Tunisian authorities to take immediate steps to ensure the rights of victims of human rights violations to effective remedies and to reparation.
Apr 14, 2011 | News
The ICJ has called upon the Tunisian authorities to take immediate steps to pursue accountability for past human rights violations and to reform the country’s legal framework.
The statement comes as the ICJ concluded a high-level mission to Tunisia aimed at assessing the Rule of Law and human rights situation in the country following theouster of the regime of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on 14 January 2011.
The mission was headed by ICJ President Pedro Nikken, who was accompanied by ICJ Secretary General Wilder Tayler, and ICJ Legal Adviser for the Middle East and North Africa Saïd Benarbia.
Tunisia-rule of law and human rights accountbility-press release-2011 (full text, DPF)
