Tunisia approves a new decision to fight illegal immigration

The Tunisian parliament has approved a draft law on passports and its documents for fighting regular crime and illegal migration which has been witnessing a great increase as from the Tunisian coasts.

The new law states "demanding new transport documents that would facilitate the process of monitoring persons who have ties to illegal migration and approving sanctions that cope with the extend of the dangerous acts and its results on persons and the country."

The Tunisian minister of the interior, al-Hadi Mahni, said that the new law came to decide an oppressive measures including persons benefiting from illegal migration in addition to unifying the legislative reference in this regard and filling the legislative gaps.

Sanctions for various penalties on various crimes relating to illegal migration range between 3 to 20 year imprisonments and financial fees ranging between 8,00 to 100,000 Tunisian dinars.

On the other hand, the Tunisian official stressed the existing cooperation between Tunisia and countries of the northern bank of the Mediterranean in this regard.

In their interventions, the Tunisian parliamentarians commended measures stated in the draft law "aiming at preserving the security of the Tunisian soil," noting that the law comes following Tunisia's ratification of the UN agreement to fight smuggling of immigrants via the sea, land and the air.