-The human rights situation in general, and the freedom of expression situation in particular, is seriously worsened, says international observers. Carl Morten Iversen and Elisabeth Eide; Norwegian PEN’s representatives in the Tunisian Monitoring Group (TMG) have just returned from a five-days’ observation and documentation mission to the North African country. (14-SEP-05)  

-Despite some minor improvements in certain areas regarding the freedom of expression for the press and broadcasting media, it is quite clear that the Tunisian authorities are tightening its grip ahead of the World Summit on the Information Society, to be held in the capital Tunis, 16 – 18 November. The absence of an independent court system, and the surveillance and harassment of oppositionals are the two most important aspects of the authorities’ policy towards the opposition. Oppositionals and human rights activists we spoke with last week are scared and pessimistic, says Iversen, the Secretary General of Norwegian PEN.

-No more human rights NGO conferences, please
-Our visit last week was deeply disheartening. The time between now and the WSIS summit will be decisive when it comes to lobbying both international media and western politicians to put the deteriorating human rights and freedom of speech situation in Tunisia on their agendas. Two months ahead of this international conference, Tunisian authorities prevented the country’s independent Syndicate of Journalists in holding its inaugural congress. The Tunisian human rights league, the oldest human rights organisation in Africa and the entire Arab world, was also prevented from arranging its sixth international congress, adds Iversen.