This document describes the arrests, “garde a vue” detention and alleged torture or ill-treatment of political prisoners in Tunisia. Thousands have allegedly been arrested over the past 18 months and held incommunicado for up to five months. Most are suspected members or sympathizers of the banned Islamic opposition movement al-Nahda. Accounts of alleged torture in police detention are included and details are given of the following suspected deaths in custody due to torture: Abdelaziz Ben Hamuda Mahuashi, Abdelraouf Laaribi, Abdelwahed Abdelli, Ameur Degache, Fathi Khiari, Faisal Barakat and Rachid Chammakhi. Legal provisions relating to arrest and pre-trial detention are described and Amnesty International’s concerns about current practice are stated.
