HRW says Tunisia must confront extremist assaults
Human Rights Watch deputy director Middle East and North Africa Joe Stork said on Monday that the failure of Tunisian authorities to investigate these attacks entrenches the religious extremists’ impunity and may embolden them to commit more violence.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/HRW-says-Tunisi...
Tunisian authorities should investigate a series of attacks by religious extremists over the past 10 months and bring those responsible to justice, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said .
In a July 11, 2012, letter to the ministers of justice and interior, HRW described in detail six incidents in which individuals or groups who appeared to be motivated by an Islamist agenda assaulted people – in most cases artists, intellectuals, and political activists – because of their ideas or dress. HRW has received reports of another such attack, by a radical religious group, against the organizers of a festival in August.HRW has received no official reponse to the letter.
“The failure of Tunisian authorities to investigate these attacks entrenches the religious extremists’ impunity and may embolden them to commit more violence,” said Joe Stork.
In all six cases the victims filed complaints at the police stations immediately after the assault, in most cases identifying the attackers. As far as HRW has been able to determine, police have not arrested any of the alleged attackers or initiated formal investigations or prosecutions against them.
Tunisian authorities are obliged under international law to investigate and prosecute people who assault others, and provide effective remedies to victims.
In the most recent attack brought to the attention of Human Rights Watch, on August 16, a group of bearded men attacked a festival to commemorate the international day for Jerusalem in Bizerte, a city 40 kilometers north of Tunis, injuring at least three activists. Despite severaltelephone callsthe police did not intervene.
These attacks have taken place in the past 10 months in various parts of the country by people having similar clothing and appearance, based on the victims’ accounts. The attackers have behaved violently and used weapons such as swords, clubs, and knives to prevent festivals or celebrations and have beaten people, apparently for their ideas, dress, or activity.
“The apparent lack of investigations – never mind prosecutions – can only increase the sense of vulnerability by those who earn the ire of these gangs,” Stork said.
In a July 11, 2012, letter to the ministers of justice and interior, HRW described in detail six incidents in which individuals or groups who appeared to be motivated by an Islamist agenda assaulted people – in most cases artists, intellectuals, and political activists – because of their ideas or dress. HRW has received reports of another such attack, by a radical religious group, against the organizers of a festival in August.HRW has received no official reponse to the letter.
“The failure of Tunisian authorities to investigate these attacks entrenches the religious extremists’ impunity and may embolden them to commit more violence,” said Joe Stork.
In all six cases the victims filed complaints at the police stations immediately after the assault, in most cases identifying the attackers. As far as HRW has been able to determine, police have not arrested any of the alleged attackers or initiated formal investigations or prosecutions against them.
Tunisian authorities are obliged under international law to investigate and prosecute people who assault others, and provide effective remedies to victims.
In the most recent attack brought to the attention of Human Rights Watch, on August 16, a group of bearded men attacked a festival to commemorate the international day for Jerusalem in Bizerte, a city 40 kilometers north of Tunis, injuring at least three activists. Despite severaltelephone callsthe police did not intervene.
These attacks have taken place in the past 10 months in various parts of the country by people having similar clothing and appearance, based on the victims’ accounts. The attackers have behaved violently and used weapons such as swords, clubs, and knives to prevent festivals or celebrations and have beaten people, apparently for their ideas, dress, or activity.
“The apparent lack of investigations – never mind prosecutions – can only increase the sense of vulnerability by those who earn the ire of these gangs,” Stork said.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/HRW-says-Tunisi...