In a letter to Tunisian Minister of Interior Ali Chaouch, Human Rights Watch today condemned the refusal to grant legal status to the Conseil National des Libertés en Tunisie, a new and independent human rights organization formed by some of the country's most respected human rights figures.
This decision must be reversed," said Hanny Megally, Executive Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch. "Otherwise the Tunisian government will only reinforce the impression that there is almost no tolerance for independent human rights activity." In its letter, the international monitoring group called on the government to permit the Conseil National des Libertés en Tunisie to conduct its activities "freely and in full legality."
The formation of the Conseil National was announced last December. Founding members include Mohamed Chakroun, the former head of the national bar association, and Moncef Marzouki, the former president of the Tunisian League for Human Rights.
For more information, contact:
In New York: Hanny Megally - 212-216-1230
In Washington, D.C.: Joe Stork - 202-371-6599 x118
In Brussels: Jean Paul Marthoz - 3-22-736-7838/732-2009
The text of the letter follows.
8 March 1999
Minister of Interior Ali Chaouch
Ministry of Interior
Avenue Habib Bourguiba
Tunis, Tunisia
Dear Mr. Minister:
In light of the cordial discussions that we had in your office in August of last year, Human Rights Watch was disappointed to learn of your government's refusal to legalize a newly formed human rights organization, the Conseil National des Libertés en Tunisie. We regard this refusal as a violation of the right to freedom of association, a right that Tunisia pledged to respect when it ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Conseil National, a nongovernmental association, was formed late last year by well-known and respected members of Tunisia's human rights community. The proclaimed goal of the Conseil was to monitor and promote human rights conditions. It formally applied for legal status and on February 26 received a receipt for its application.
We understand that the written refusal, signed by yourself and dated March 2, was received on March 6. The refusal provided no explanation other than to say that the application was in contradiction with the law.
Unless it is reversed, this refusal will reinforce the impression that your government shows almost no tolerance for independent human rights activity by Tunisians. The refusal will be seen as consistent with the systematic efforts undertaken to marginalize and impede the work of the independent Tunisian Human Rights League, and to harass and persecute human rights lawyers such as Radhia Nasraoui, Nejib Hosni and others.
We hope therefore that this decision will be reversed and that the Conseil National des Libertés en Tunisie will be permitted to conduct its activities freely and in full legality.
As always, we welcome your comments and thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
/S/
Hanny Megally
cc: Ambassador Noureddine Mejdoub
Presidential Counsel Rafik Haj Kassem
