Media & freedom of expression
Tunisia: Imprisoned human rights defender Mohamed Abbou on hunger strike
2006-03-22, Issue 247
http://pambazuka.org/en/category/media/32940
Printer friendly version
Incarcerated since 1 March 2006 for publishing an article on the Internet , lawyer and human rights defender Mohamed Abbou has been on hunger strike since 11 March. He is protesting his prison conditions that have worsened since 2 March, when a gathering in front of Kef prison, where he is detained, took place that was blocked by the police and the National Guard.
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________
UPDATE - TUNISIA
15 March 2006
Imprisoned human rights defender Mohamed Abbou on hunger strike
SOURCE: Observatory for the Freedom of Press, Publishing and Creation in Tunisia (OLPEC), Tunisia
**Updates IFEX alerts of 6 and 2 March and 28 February 2006, 21 September, 27 July, 13 June and 4 May 2005**
(OLPEC/IFEX) - The following is an abridged translation of a statement by the CNLT, of which OLPEC is a member:
Imprisoned lawyer and human rights defender Mohamed Abbou on hunger strike
Incarcerated since 1 March 2006 for publishing an article on the Internet , lawyer and human rights defender Mohamed Abbou has been on hunger strike since 11 March. He is protesting his prison conditions that have worsened since 2 March, when a gathering in front of Kef prison, where he is detained, took place that was blocked by the police and the National Guard.
In recent days, Abbou has been woken in the middle of the night by guards who beat him and target him in retaliation. The prison administration has also incited some of his fellow prison-mates to harass and further damaging rumours about Abbou and his family, reported his sister, who visited him on 9 March.
Prison guards also stopped his weekly visit after only three minutes, despite the insistence of his mother, whom he had not seen in three months. His wife Samia Abbou, had decided since 2 March not to meet her husband behind bars and to instead stage a sit-in in front of the prison each Thursday visiting day, as a sign of protest against the injustice faced by her husband.
A substantial police dispatch encircled Samia Abbou during her last sit-in. Numerous State Security and National Guard vehicles "escorted" her and barrister Idoudi, the entire way out of Tunis to Kef (170 km), stopping the vehicle 10 times, during which the driver had documents removed from his car and a ticket drawn up against him.
For further information contact OLPEC, Tunisia, e-mail: postmaster@observatoire-olpec.org, Internet: http://www.observatoire-olpec.org
The information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of OLPEC. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit OLPEC.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
555 Richmond St. West, # 1101, PO Box 407
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3B1
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: alerts@ifex.org general e-mail: ifex@ifex.org
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/