Flawed Accountability

This 52-page report analyzes Tunisia’s efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the use of excessive force by police between December 17, 2010, and January 14, 2011, when Ben Ali relinquished power and fled Tunisia. During that period, 132 protesters were killed and hundreds more were injured. In all, 53 defendants were brought to trial in late 2011, including two former interior ministers and senior Interior Ministry officials. But Ben Ali, the principal defendant, was tried in absentia. Due to longstanding legislation that the new authorities failed to amend, the trials took place before military courts.