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 You are in: Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs: Press Relations Office > Press Releases (Other) > 2006 > April 
Press Statement
Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 3, 2006


Harassment of Tunisian Activists

The United States is concerned about reports of harassment of activists and civil society organizations in Tunisia. We are particularly concerned about the situation of political activist Neila Charchour Hachicha and her family, including the 10-month prison sentence given to her husband, confiscation of her car, distribution of doctored photographs of a family member, and her long interrogation by Tunisian authorities. The actions of the Tunisian Government are particularly troubling given her recent remarks regarding freedom of the press and the need for democratic reform in Tunisia on Al Jazeera and at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.


These actions are part of a pattern of harassment. The activist lawyer Mohamed Abbou, convicted last year through legal processes that were called highly irregular by Tunisian non-governmental organizations and international observers, remains imprisoned. Activities of civil society organizations are systematically disrupted - including those associated with the November 2005 World Summit on the Information Society.

While the Government of Tunisia has taken some positive steps forward, including recent prisoner releases, improvements in prison facilities, and increased protection of the media, the United States looks to Tunisia to demonstrate a sustained and consistent approach to its declared intentions to engage in greater democratic reform. Harassment of citizens seeking to express dissident views peacefully and to organize legally is inconsistent with that goal.


2006/332


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