Amnesty International criticizes Tunisia for violations of human rights

Amnesty International has announced that violations of human rights and repression have been increasing in Tunisia despite "propaganda" efforts exerted by the government to improve its image in this respect.

The organization, which takes London as its headquarters, said in a report released on Wednesday that "in addition to acts of arrest, torture and harassment, the Tunisian authorities also spy on the telephone calls and messages sent via Fax." The statement added the Tunisian authorities organized a campaign to frighten human rights partisans and to obstruct their activities.

Amnesty International, in its report, highlighted four cases of Tunisian figures who are in disputes with the authorities because of their activities. Deputy Chairman of the Tunisian Human Rights League Khamis Kseila, arrested since September 1997, the league's former chairman, Munsif Marzouqi, who has been harassed daily and two women lawyers, Radiya Nasrawi and Najat Yaqoubi.