Video: Detainees Denied Right to Counsel in Tunisia

Lax enforcement of a new law in Tunisia granting detainees prompt access to a lawyer has weakened the impact of this landmark legislation, even if detainee rights have improved modestly since the law took effect two years ago today.

Every year, the police arrest thousands of people across Tunisia. They spend up to four days in police custody, a crucial period for building the criminal case against them before they first see a judge. During this time, they are vulnerable to mistreatment.