A Tunisian appeals court introduced activist Rania Amdouni from prison on Wednesday. Amdouni was charged with”insulting police and misuse of morals,” which ignited concerns from human rights groups over suppression of free speech.
She’s faced abuse from law enforcement due to her participation in recent protests against unfair austerity policies and police brutality.
Authorities have shared her picture on social networking and made disparaging remarks about her physical appearance and sex identity.
In the event that prompted her current arrest, Amdouni went into the Septième police station to file a complaint against police officials for harassment. She was subsequently detained for”insulting a public officer” and sentenced to six months .
Amdouni is among the several activists who’ve been threatened with legal implications under post 125 of Tunisia’s penal code, which criminalizes a wide assortment of behaviour which may be translated as”insulting a public officer during the performance of his responsibilities.” Three other social justice leaders had been detained accusations of throwing a plastic water bottle at a police officer and also insulting police marriages. Such prosecutions are the subject of studies regarding competitive prosecution restricting freedom of speech.
Amna Guellali, director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa division, stated,”Tunisia’s police are utilizing Article 125 as a catch-all fee to prosecute all those who dare to criticize law enforcement or whine about their own conduct. They need to quit prosecuting activists and human rights defenders on obscure charges and desperately protect the right to freedom of expression”
