By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TUNIS, Tunisia – Tunisia’s poor human rights situation has raised concern amongst some leaders in Europe. Two critics of the Tunisian government held a month-long hunger strike seeking to obtain more freedom of expression, and a European parliamentarian who met the critics said on Saturday called the situation of human rights in Tunisia is “worrying” and “unbearable.” (Reuters)

Maya Jribi and Ahmed Nejib Chabi are members of the Progressive Democratic Party – one of only nine opposition groups not banned in Tunisia. Jribi and Chabi began the hunger strike on September 20 protesting a court order that compelled them to vacate their political party’s office. A court allowed their landlord to obtain an eviction against the Jribi and Chabi, because the landlord complained that using the office space for political purposes violated the original lease. The two protested that the ruling violated the freedom of expression and thus have refused to eat solid food for a month.

Jribi believes the government triggered the landlord’s action against her, because she leads an opposition party. In contrast, an official source close to the government called their hunger protest an “irresponsible behavior” stating that the political dispute had nothing to do with a civil and real estate case between a landlord and a tenant.

Tunisia is north Africa’s most stable and prosperous country, but the government has been accused of tolerating little dissent and harassing those who are critical of the government. The government has also been criticized of stifling free speech by tightly controlling media and beating or jailing opponents. Human rights advocates criticize that Tunisia can get away with more impunity than other authoritarian governments in the area, because Tunisia’s Western allies are distracted by its sound economic performance and successful containment of radical Islamist activism.

Helene Flautre, head of the European Parliament’s human rights sub-committee, sent a letter earlier in the week to Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali asking him to suspend the eviction order and demanding “respect of fundamental rights.” Jribi and Chabi ended the strike shortly after obtaining an agreement with the landlord that they could return to the offices.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Tunisia’s rights situation worries EU, deputy says – 20 October 2007

BBC News – Contry profile: Tunisia – 9 October 2007

AllAfrica.com – TMG condemns attempts by authorities to silence dissenting voices – 3 October 2007

Maghreb – Two Tunisian opposition figures start an open hunger strike – 25 September 2007