Al-Tareifi: on human rights conditions in Tunisia, 500 political detainees

The chairman of the Tunisian league for human rights, Mukhtar al-Tareifi, said yesterday upon reviewing the society's annual report that the status of human rights conditions in Tunisia has not witnessed any progress worthy mentioning during 2002.

In a press conference al-Tareifi said "certain positive results were noted, but with many negative points also." He added that the situation has not deteriorated but no noteworthy progress was made. He indicated the authority's interference in his group's efforts for convening of a regional conference.

He added that there is in Tunisia between 500 to 600 political detainees.

The chairman of the society stressed that despite the authority's announcement of measures to improve detention conditions in prisons, however, its situation is still "catastrophic." He talked about "two death cases which raise suspicion" in jails during 2002. He also expressed regret over preventing human rights defenders from visiting the detention centers.