The Observatory of Rights and Freedoms in Tunisia accused the presidency and government of promoting impunity in the country through its violation of the rights of detained activists.
Director of the Observatory, Anouar Ouled Ali, told Asharq Al-Awsat that detainees awaiting trial are being deprived of their right to a lawyer.
Their privacy is being invaded and they have been victims of slander after photos and videos of their confessions were posted on social media, he added.
They were further violated when photos of them in “inhumane” positions were released, he revealed, saying the media was complicit with these acts by agreeing to publish these images.
Moreover, Ouled Ali questioned the justifications provided by Interior Minister Hichem Mechichi over the defamation of a Tunisian who had recently returned from Libya.
He urged him to acknowledge his statements and hold the violators accountable, calling on him to respect the law and refrain from insulting detainees.
International rights activists have voiced concerns over the ongoing detention and trial of Tunisian bloggers, who had criticized the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
