On August 5, 2024, the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced opposition figure, Abir Moussi, to two years in prison under Decree-Law 54 following a complaint filed by the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) after she criticized the legislative elections process. Abir Moussi has been in arbitrary detention since October 3, 2023 under charges that include “attempting to change the form of government,” “inciting violence on Tunisian territory,” and “attacking with the aim of provoking disorder” under Article 72 of the Penal Code, following her attempt to submit an appeal against presidential decrees ahead of local elections. Abir Moussi is facing several other charges in separate investigations related to the exercise of her right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The Tunisian authorities must immediately release Abir Moussi and drop the charges against her as they are based solely on the exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: November 2, 2024
take Action:
- Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
- Click here to let us know the actions you took on Third Urgent Action 114.23. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.
contact information:
President of the Republic Kais Saied
Route de la Goulette
Site archéologique de Carthage, Tunisie
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @TnPresidency
Tunisian Ambassador to the United States
Mrs. Hanene Tajouri Bessassi
1515 Massachusetts Avenue,
NW, Washington DC 20005
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Ambassador Mrs. Hanene Tajouri Bessassi
sample letter:
Your Excellency, or Dear Ambassador,
I urge you to immediately release Abir Moussi and drop all criminal charges against her as they are based solely on the exercise of her human rights.
On August 5, 2024, The Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced Abir Moussi to two years in prison based on public statements she had made in November 2022 and January 2023, criticizing the legislative electoral process under Decree-Law 54 following a complaint filed by the High Independent Authority for Elections (ISIE). Abir Moussi is also facing a separate investigation for exercising her rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression based on protests that she led or statements that she made.
Criticism of the authorities is protected speech under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Tunisia is a state party.
I urge you to immediately release Abir Moussi and drop all charges against her as they stem solely from her peaceful political activism. Pending her release, she must be granted regular access to her family, lawyers and adequate healthcare, and held in conditions that comply with international standards for the treatment of prisoners.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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