Thursday, July 25, 2013
Opposition Leader Assassinated in Tunisia
Strongly condemning the
assassination earlier this morning of a Tunisian opposition leader, the
United Nations human rights chief called on the authorities to
investigate the murder, and urged Tunisian citizens to stand united
against attempts to derail the country’s democratic transition.
“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the news of [Mohamed] Brahmi’s
assassination. I call upon the authorities to immediately launch a
prompt and transparent investigation to ensure that the people who
carried out this crime are held accountable,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay.
Mr. Brahmi, a member of the National Constituent Assembly, was shot dead
in front of his daughter outside of his house in a Tunis suburb.
“The assassination of Mr. Brahmi, which coincides with the 56th
anniversary of the Declaration of the Tunisian Republic, risks upsetting
the vital constitution-making process that is in its final stages,” Ms.
Pillay said. “I urge all actors in Tunisia – Government, opposition, the general
public and civil society – to stand firm and united in the face of
political violence, and defend everyone’s freedom to hold and express
diverse political views.”
This is the third killing of this kind in the past ten months. In
October, Lofti Nagdh was killed and in February, Chokri Belaid, another
opposition member was assassinated in similar circumstances to Mr.
Brahmi’s murder.
“The Tunisian authorities must take very serious measures to investigate
these assassinations, identify the culprits and bring them to justice,”
Ms. Pillay said. “It is also crucial that they offer better protection
to people who, like Mr. Brahmi, are clearly at risk.”
Tunisia has been undergoing a democratic transition since massive public
demonstrations overthrew long-standing leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
in January 2011. The actions of Tunisian citizens sparked the wave of
popular uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East that became
known as the Arab Spring, which also led to the toppling of regimes in
Egypt, Libya and Yemen.
“The Government must take strong measures to show it will enforce the
rule of law, and do its utmost to deter these terrible acts which appear
to be designed to inflame the situation and undermine the democratic
transition in Tunisia,” Ms. Pillay added.
(UN press release)
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/international_law/2013/07/opposition-leader-assassinated-in-tunisia.html
