Tunsia-Freedom of expression: Arrests of Internet users in Tunisia worry Amnesty International

Amnesty International has communicated concern at the increasing intolerance of criticism in Tunisia.

The NGO announced that at least 40 bloggers and bloggers were indicted between 2018 and 2020 for scrutinising local authorities, the police or state officials.

The lawsuits endanger the progress made so far in preserving Tunisia’s human rights, including freedom of expression, according to Amna Guellali, deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

“It is extremely worrying that ten years after the revolution, bloggers and bloggers and activists are targeted for criminal prosecution under laws dating from the time when Tunisia was under a repressive regime. , only for posting their opinions on Facebook.

Instead of trying to silence criticism, the Tunisian authorities would do better to defend the right of everyone to express themselves freely and in safety without fear of reprisal, ”she said.

Faced with this situation, the organization called on the Tunisian authorities to protect freedom of expression in Tunisia, to stop all criminal prosecutions for offenses related to expression and to stop initiating or threatening to initiate such lawsuits.

It also called on MPs to intervene and amend certain legislative texts such as the Telecommunications Code and the Penal Code so that defamation is treated only as a civil law matter.