On of Justice in Tunisia: Torture, Trumped-Up Charges and a Tainted Trial

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On of Justice in Tunisia: Torture, Trumped-Up Charges and a Tainted Trial January 2000 Vol. 12, No.1 (E) THE ADMINISTRATIADMINISTRATIONON OF JUSTICE IN TUNISIA: TORTURE, TRUMPED-UP CHARGES AND A TAINTED TRIAL I. SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 II. RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................3 III. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 IV. PRETRIAL PROCEDURE AND CONCERNS...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................6 Torture and Ill-treatment........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................7 Harassment of Human Rights Defenders..............................................................................................................................................................................................................8 Limitations on freedom of Expression, Association, and Assembly........................................................................................................................................................9 The Judiciary=s Lack of Independence and Denial of the Right to a Fair Trial.............................................................................................................................10 V. THE FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATING JUDGE....................................................................................................................................................................................................................10 VI. THE TRIAL AT FIRST INSTANCE...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................13 Environment and Response to Presence of Observers ..............................................................................................................................................................................13 Hearing of May 15, 1999.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Hearing of June 19, 1999..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Hearing of July 10, 1999...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15 Challenges to the Recorded Dates of Arrest.......................................................................................................................................................................................16 Repudiation of the Contents of the Statements to Police.............................................................................................................................................................16 The Detention and Interrogation of Hamma Hammami=s Relatives....................................................................................................................................................17 Denial of the Substance of the Charges................................................................................................................................................................................................17 Judgment and Sentence.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................20 VII. THE APPEAL.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22 Hearing of August 6, 1999......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22 ABOUT THIS REPORT.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24 APPENDIX A: Charges, Dates of Arrest, Maximum Possible Sentences, and Actual Sentences............................................................................................................ 25 Codes for Charges ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 APPENDIX B: Excerpts from the Verdict in Case 21018/099/6.............................................................................................................................................................................. 27 APPENDIX C: Highlights of New Tunisian Laws Protecting the Rights of Persons in Detention.........................................................................................................30 Law No 89/1999 of August 2, 1999 Amending Provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.....................................................................................................30 Article 101bis.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................30 Law No 90/1999 of August 2, 1999 Amending Provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure ....................................................................................................30 Chapter One ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................30 Article 13bis.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................30 Article 57.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................31 I. SUMMARY The trial of Tunisia=s most outspoken human rights lawyer, Radhia Nasraoui, and twenty co-defendants was attended by jurists representing Amnesty International, the International Federation of Human Rights (Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l=Homme, FIDH), and Human Rights Watch. Nasraoui and all of the other defendants, most them students, were convicted and sentenced to prison terms on charges related to membership in or activities on behalf of a banned leftist political organization, the Tunisian Communist Workers Party (Parti communiste des ouvriers tunisiens, PCOT). No evidence was introduced during the trial to indicate that any of the defendants had committed, conspired to commit, or incited others to commit acts of violence. The charges on which the defendants were found guilty included maintaining an association that incites hatred, defaming public authorities and judicial authorities, distributing leaflets and spreading false information capable of disturbing public order, inciting the public to violate the country=s laws, and holding or hosting meetings without a permit. Responding to the charges, some of the defendants maintained they had no link whatsoever to political activities. Others admitted to involvement in student or opposition political activities that
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