Tunisian Activist Launches Hunger Strike
On January 14, Sihem Bensedrine, a notable human rights defender and former head of Tunisia’s Truth and Dignity Commission, began a hunger strike while imprisoned in Manouba. “I will no longer stand the injustice that strikes me. Justice cannot be based on lies and calumnies, but on concrete, tangible evidence,” she stated through her legal representatives.
Decades of Activism and Oppression
For forty years, Bensedrine has bravely confronted the abuses of various regimes, enduring imprisonment under former leaders Habib Bourguiba and Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali. Now, under authoritarian President Kais Saied, she faces imprisonment as retaliation for her tireless human rights advocacy.
Legal Challenges and Allegations
Bensedrine’s detention was ordered on August 1, 2024, regarding accusations related to her leadership at the Truth and Dignity Commission from 2014 to 2018. The charges include “fraud” and “forgery,” primarily stemming from a complaint filed in 2020 that alleged she falsified the Commission’s final report.
The Truth and Dignity Commission’s Legacy
Established during Tunisia’s democratic transition in 2013, the Truth and Dignity Commission aimed to investigate human rights violations from 1955 to 2013. Despite referencing numerous cases of grave abuses, its progress has been hindered, culminating in halted transitional justice efforts following Saied’s election and control over the judiciary.
Impending Decisions and Public Mobilization
Now a pre-trial detainee for nearly six months, a judge will soon decide whether to extend her detention. Human rights groups are calling for Bensedrine’s release and the dismissal of charges against her, emphasizing their connection to her Commission leadership. Commemorating her hunger strike, Tunisian citizens gathered on Habib Bourguiba Avenue, showcasing their solidarity with portraits of political prisoners, including Bensedrine herself.
A Symbolic Date
The day of her hunger strike, January 14, originally marked a pivotal moment when Tunisians rose against tyranny, leading to Ben Ali’s downfall in 2011. Since Saied’s consolidation of power, he shifted this commemoration to December 17, symbolizing his break from the democratic movements and the legacy of freedom that followed the revolution.
– Sihem Bensedrine began a hunger strike on January 14 while in prison. – She has fought for human rights for 40 years and now faces retaliation under Kais Saied’s regime. – Facing serious charges linked to her work with the Truth and Dignity Commission, she awaits a judge’s decision on her detention. – Her hunger strike coincided with public demonstrations calling for justice.
Sihem Bensedrine’s hunger strike highlights the ongoing struggle for human rights in Tunisia under authoritarian rule. With her history of activism and the allegations against her deemed retaliatory, there’s a pressing need for justice and accountability. The public outcry on January 14 underscores the continued desire for democratic principles and support for those wrongfully imprisoned.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
