By Ann Flower Seyse
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TUNSI, Tunisia– Tunisia has requested that the United States send two Tunisian nationals being held on charges of Terrorism back to Tunisia. Both men have been convicted in absentia on terrorism-related charges. Earlier in May the United States requested that Italy take in the same two men, as Italy had been investigating their connection to an Islamist group. One of the men is currently being held in Guantanamo Bay prison, and the other is being held at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

Since President Barack Obama ordered the closure of U.S. run Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, the United States has been trying to persuade other countries to take in Guantanamo’s current detainees. Tunisia announced on May 26 that it would take all the Tunisian Nationals currently being detained in Guantanamo.

Bechir Tekkari, Tunisian Minister of Justice and Human Rights, says that Tunisia is happy to welcome ten Tunisians that are currently being detained at Guantanamo Bay. Tekkari vouched for Tunisia’s desire to try the detainees under the Tunisian legal system and under the ‘principle of the presumption of innocence’.

While Tekkari has not had any contact with the Obama administration Tunisia is ready to take the prisoners back. He also attempted to convince human rights activists that Tunisia would judge and punish the detainees appropriately under the existing Tunisian Laws. Tunisia has been scrutinized following a critical report from the human rights organization Human Rights Watch. The report alleges torture and “other ill-treatment in police stations and detention centers run by the state security department”, as well as a vivid description of one man’s ordeal in custody and the severe abuse that he endured.

Tekkari attempted to deal with the allegations of the Human Rights Watch report in his in his address on Tuesday. He also discussed a new bill that sought alternative sentencing, and would greatly reduce the number of detentions. Tekkari also welcomed inspectors from Human Rights Watch to come into Tunisian prisons and investigate first-hand.

The United States will be considering the sincerity of Tekkari’s remarks when they decide where to send the ten Tunisian Guantanamo detainees back to Tunisia. Given Tunisia’s specific request for two prisoners to be returned and the United States prior requests for other countries to take the Guantanamo prisoners, it will be a difficult decision for the US to make.

For more information, please see:

Legalbrief America- Government Prepared to Accept Guantanamo Detainees -1 June 2009

Reuters- Tunisia asks Washington to Hand Over Two Detainees– 31 May 2009

Tunisia Online News- Alternative Sentences Will Prevent the Detention of 10000 people Each Year – 27 May 2009

AFP- Tunisia Tells US it will Take in All its Guantanamo Nationals – 26 May 2009

AP- Tunisia Will Accept 10 Citizens Held in Guantanamo– 26 May 2009