Mohammed Abbou

A founder of the International Association for Solidarity with Political Prisoners and the Center for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Mohammed Abbou is a well-known Tunisian lawyer, husband, and father. He has been in the prison of the city of Le Kef since March 1, 2005.

On February 28, 2005, Abbou published an article on the Internet that "criticiz[ed] President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali for [inviting] Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to attend a global conference" and accusing relatives of the ruling family of corruption. Though he was arrested the day after this article appeared, he was charged instead for an article that he wrote in August 2004 which "compar[ed] conditions in Tunisian prisons to those in the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib detention facility in Iraq."

Among the charges of which he was convicted on April 28, 2006 were claims that he "insulted the judiciary" and wrote articles that were "likely to disturb the public order." He was also convicted on the assault of a fellow lawyer--Human Rights Watch claims this accusation was politically motivated and EnglishPEN reports that several reliable witnesses were able to deny the accusation. Witnesses at the hearing say unsubstantive evidence was presented by the prosecution to support those claims.

Since then, Mohammed Abbou has been in prison. He has gone on a number of hunger strikes to "draw attention to what is happening in my country as regards the repression against all those who voice dissent."

His wife and other colleagues report continued harassment by state security services. Most recently, Reporters Sans Frontieres reports that police and groups of youths physically harassed and prevented Mr Abbou's wife, Samia Abbou, and three individuals travelling with her from visiting Mr Abbou in prison.

Please help bring attention to Mr Abbou's continued imprisonment and the harassment that his family members are facing from the state. You may voice your concern to the Tunisian Embassy in Washington, D.C. by calling (202) 862-1850.

• Mohammed Abbou - [EnglishPEN]
• Tunisia: Lawyer imprisoned for online dissent - [Human Rights Watch]
• The Wife of Mohammed Abbou Speaks - [Or Does It Explode]
• Imprisoned lawyer's wife and three companions harassed by police and attacked by youths to prevent prison visit - [Reporters Sans Frontieres]