BACKGROUND INFORMATION Over the years, Amnesty International has received numerous reports of torture and ill-treatment by the Tunisian security forces, including by agents of the State Security Department at the Ministry of the Interior in the capital, Tunis. In virtually all cases, allegations of torture are not investigated and the perpetrators are not brought to justice. Tunisian national Adil Rahali was deported to Tunisia from Ireland in April 2004 after his application for asylum was refused. He was arrested on arrival in Tunisia and taken to the State Security Department of the Ministry of the Interior, where he was held in secret detention for several days and reportedly tortured. Adil Rahali, who had worked in Europe for more than a decade, was charged under 2003 "anti-terrorism" law with belonging to a "terrorist" organization operating abroad. The organization was not named and no details were provided about the exact nature of its activities. No investigation is known to have been conducted into the alleged torture despite the fact that his lawyer filed a complaint. In March 2005, Adil Rahili was sentenced under "anti-terrorism" legislation to 10 years’ imprisonment, reduced to five years on appeal in September 2005. In May 2004, Tunisian national Tarek Belkhirat was forcibly returned to Tunisia from France after his request for asylum was rejected. He was arrested upon his return to Tunisia and charged under the 2003 anti-terrorism law. In February 2005, the Council of State (Conseil d’État), the highest administrative court in France, quashed the order to deport Tarek Belkhirat to Tunisia. In March 2005, a court in Tunis sentenced him to ten years imprisonment, reduced to five years on appeal in October 2005. He remains in prison in Tunisia.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in French, English or your own language: - expressing concern at reports that Adel Tebourski is at imminent risk of being forcibly returned to Tunisia, and calling for all attempts to return him to be halted; - urging the French authorities to stop the forcible return of any person to a country where they are at risk of serious human rights abuses, in accordance with France’s international obligations, including the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and under customary international law; - reminding the French authorities that, regardless of any security concerns they might have regarding Adel Tebourski, the forcible return of anyone to a country where there are substantial reasons to believe they are at risk of torture, is absolutely prohibited under international law; - urging the French authorities not to send Adel Tebourski to any third country where he would not be granted effective and durable protection against forcible return to Tunisia.
APPEALS TO: Foreign Affairs Minister Monsieur Philippe Douste Blazy Ministre des Affaires Etrangères 37, quai des Orfèvres PARIS F-75007 France Fax: + 33 1 43 17 42 75 Salutation: Dear Minister Interior Minister Monsieur Nicolas Sarkozy Ministre de l’intérieur et de l'aménagement du territoire Place Beauvau Paris F-75008 Cedex 08 FRANCE Fax: + 33 1 43 59 89 50 Email: laurent.solly@interieur.gouv.fr Salutation: Dear Minister
COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of France accredited to your country. PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 8 September 2006.******** Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 0DW, London, United Kingdom
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