[{"command":"settings","settings":{"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"core\/picturefill,entity_embed\/caption,views\/views.ajax,views\/views.module","theme":"hrw_design","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__288271__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"288271","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/288271","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__288271__en","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0ae5601d8790ff50fca3cf23b9ac9170285f2f75823ebdc8d9cc054bc03a679b"}},"merge":true},{"command":"add_css","data":"\u003Clink rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 href=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/css\/css_reI-6YIYy-k9pvxm-gaCRrn5cSrTZRtyAMrp4YXDUJw.css\u0022 \/\u003E\n"},{"command":"add_js","selector":"body","data":[{"src":"\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_VkK39bvB4H6LLVemwPFz8QWcUMTFqZ3FFo_LBVv_4vs.js"}]},{"command":"insert","method":"replaceWith","selector":".js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__288271__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__288271__en\u0022\u003E\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022blog-block__content__description rich-text pt-6 mb:pt-10 mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy nephew was arrested yesterday. He is an engineering student in Paris on vacation in the south [of Tunisia]. Police forced him to do a urine test, which came back positive [for cannabis].\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-right embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--right\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/27283\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/tunisia_main.jpg?itok=uBYutbaY 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/tunisia_main.jpg?itok=vm2zo_yC 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/tunisia_main.jpg?itok=vm2zo_yC\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022394\u0022 alt=\u0022The photograph shows a banner in a protest against Law 52 about the use of drugs, in December 28, 2015, in front of Tunisian parliament building, in Bardo. It says:\u201dOur Children and our Friends are not Criminals, \u201cand articulates the demand to abrogate th\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__caption\u0022\u003EThe photograph shows a banner in a protest against Law 52 about the use of drugs, in December 28, 2015, in front of Tunisian parliament building, in Bardo. It says:\u201dOur Children and our\u00a0Friends are not Criminals, \u201cand articulates the demand to abrogate the law.\u00a0\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E \u00a9 Nawat\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EI have received many calls like that since we released a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/node\/285927\/\u0022\u003Ereport\u003C\/a\u003E on the harsh sentences imposed for possession of any amount of cannabis in Tunisia. The callers want to know how we can help their children or friends who have been arrested.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe truth is there\u2019s little we can do. Until the parliament changes the so-called \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.legislation-securite.tn\/fr\/node\/34555\u0022\u003ELaw 52\u003C\/a\u003E,\u201d which imposes a mandatory one-year prison term for first-time use or possession of cannabis, the police will continue jailing people while awaiting results of a urine test. A positive test usually results in a year in prison.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EAdopted in 1992, \u201cLaw 52\u201d allows judges no discretion to reduce the sentence or consider penalties other than prison. It imposes a minimum five-year term on repeat offenders.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2015, Tunisia\u2019s prisons held 7,451 people convicted of drug-related offenses, according to official statistics. About 70 percent of them \u2013 about 5,200 people \u2013 were convicted of using or possessing cannabis, known locally as \u201czatla.\u201d That means thousands of mostly young people with no criminal record end up in overcrowded prison cells with hardened criminals; when freed, they face a job market that is tough even for people with no criminal record. The cost to the Tunisian state is significant: People convicted of drug offenses constitute 28 percent of the total state prison population.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-left embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-node embedded-entity-bundle-report embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--left\u0022\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022media-related flex md:ml-8\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022media-related__image flex-none\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/report\/2016\/02\/02\/all-joint\/tunisias-repressive-drug-law-and-roadmap-its-reform\u0022 class=\u0022media-related__image-link\u0022\u003E\n \n \u003Cimg src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-02-mena-tunisia-cover.jpg?itok=C57OITnD\u0022 alt=\u0022cover option\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 class=\u0022unloaded\u0022 width=\u002277\u0022 height=\u0022100\u0022 \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022media-related__content pl-4\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022media-related__info text-base text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ctime class=\u0022media-related__date\u0022 datetime=\u00222016-02-02T04:01:00-0500\u0022\u003EFebruary 2, 2016\u003C\/time\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022media-related__title text-gray-900 text-2xl leading-tight font-medium font-sans mt-1\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/report\/2016\/02\/02\/all-joint\/tunisias-repressive-drug-law-and-roadmap-its-reform\u0022 class=\u0022media-related__title-link hover:underline focus:underline\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cAll this for a Joint\u201d \u003C\/span\u003E\n\u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022media-related__subtitle text-gray-700 text-lg font-serif font-normal leading-snug py-2\u0022\u003ETunisia\u2019s Repressive Drug Law and a Roadmap for Its Reform\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cul class=\u0022media-related__list\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022media-related__item block border-t border-gray-200 first:border-t-0 \u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/sites\/default\/files\/report_pdf\/tunisia0216_web.pdf\u0022 class=\u0022media-related__item-link flex py-2\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022media-related__item-icon self-center\u0022\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-4 inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-docicon\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022media-related__item-title font-semibold text-sm pl-4\u0022\u003EDownload the full report\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/li\u003E\n \u003Cli class=\u0022media-related__item block border-t border-gray-200 first:border-t-0 \u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/sites\/default\/files\/report_pdf\/tunisia0216_arweb.pdf\u0022 class=\u0022media-related__item-link flex py-2\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022media-related__item-icon self-center\u0022\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-4 inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-docicon\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022media-related__item-title font-semibold text-sm pl-4\u0022\u003EDownload the full report in Arabic\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/li\u003E\n \u003Cli class=\u0022media-related__item block border-t border-gray-200 first:border-t-0 \u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/sites\/default\/files\/report_pdf\/tunisia0216fr_sumandrecs_.pdf\u0022 class=\u0022media-related__item-link flex py-2\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022media-related__item-icon self-center\u0022\u003E\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-4 inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-docicon\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022media-related__item-title font-semibold text-sm pl-4\u0022\u003EDownload the summary and recommendations in French\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/li\u003E\n \u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThese problems are not unacknowledged by the Tunisian government. In late 2015, it sent a draft drug law to parliament that would abolish prison terms for first-time offenders in drug use or possession cases. It would also do away with mandatory sentences, allowing judges to impose noncustodial sentences. But, three months later, the law has yet to be scheduled for debate in parliament, and there is no apparent justification for the delay. Meanwhile, police enforcement of Law 52 continues to upend the lives of many young Tunisians. Parliament should move swiftly to change this, or if it continues to drag its feet, a moratorium on enforcing possession laws on first time offenders should be considered.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n\u003C\/div\u003E\n","settings":null}]