On August 1, 2024, a Tunis investigative judge ordered the pre-trial detention of prominent human rights defender, Sihem Bensedrine, who was president of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD) until 2018. Sihem Bensedrine has been under investigation since February 2023 under charges of “fraud”, “forgery”, and “abuse of official capacity” following a complaint about the alleged falsification of the chapter about corruption in the banking sector in the IVD final report. Sihem Bensedrine pre-trial detention is arbitrary because it is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her human rights. The detention also falls short of international standards of fairness. Her prosecution appears to be a reprisal for her work exposing human rights violations as head of the IVD. Sihem Bensedrine is currently detained pending trial in the Manouba prison for woman. Authorities must immediately release Sihem Bensedrine, drop all the charges against her, and end the misuse of the criminal justice system to target her.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: October 20, 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 Urgent Action 76.24. 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 Sihem Bensedrine and drop the criminal charges against her as they are based on her work as President of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD) which documented and referred to prosecution the crimes committed under previous regimes. Sihem Bensedrine is a human rights defender and a journalist who has long denounced human rights violations in Tunisia.
Sihem Bensedrine must not be punished for exposing allegations of human rights abuses and corruption committed by past regimes. Tunisian authorities must uphold and ensure her human rights and protect her and the IVD members from reprisal including in the form of civil or criminal prosecution brought against them because of their work or the content of their reports.
I urge you to immediately release Sihem Bensedrine, drop all the charges against her, and end the misuse of the criminal justice system to target her. Pending her release, she must be granted regular access to her family, lawyers and adequate medical care, and held in conditions that comply with international standards for the treatment of prisoners.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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