HRW: Suspicious deaths of detainees in Tunisia

Human Rights Watch has called on Tunisian authorities to begin a thorough and impartial investigation into the deaths of two detainees who died under suspicious circumstances, after being tortured while in detention.

In a statement released yesterday, the watchdog said relatives of both men provided photographs showing marks and bruises on their faces and bodies, and said that authorities had failed to inform them promptly about the deaths.

The organisation said the National Guard anti-drugs brigade arrested Qaïs Berrhouma on 5 October and beat him violently in the street.

“The following day, his family learnt through a relative that his body was at the Charles Nicole Hospital,” it added.

According to the statement, the second man, Sofien Dridi’s family found him dead in the Charles Nicole Hospital morgue on 18 September; seven days after the police arrested him at passport control at the Tunis-Carthage Airport.

“Neither prison nor police authorities had informed the family of his death,” it added.

Human Rights Watch country researcher, Amna Guellali said: “The credibility of Tunisia’s judicial system will take a big hit if it can’t explain how and why these two detainees died. The authorities’ failure to promptly notify the next of kin heightens the suspicion of foul play.”