The Tunisian League for Human Rights (French: LTDH) denounced ongoing restrictions on freedoms, human rights violations and the campaigns of intimidation conducted by authorities against opponents. "Legal proceedings against political and civil society activists are condemnable along with arrests of civilians who exercised the right to freedom of expression and assembly," the LTDH said Sunday at the end of a two-day meeting. The League urged "all democratic forces and human rights champions to rally around a joint action plan to address current challenges" and decried "curbs on freedom of expression and press and control over public media." There is need, the LTDH said, to " revoke decree n°54, reconsider the role of independent regulatory bodies and move the media out of the grip of the executive." "The enslavement of the judiciary to the political power is blamable, " said the league. It is imperative to abandon measures impinging n judicial independence . The league is fully opposed to the deviation in th e political process and the establishment of a one-man rule in which the executive has the upper hand over other branches and independent and regulatory authorities." The league denounced "the violations committed against political detainees" and called for their release and the cessation of legal proceedings against them. It also urged an end to groundless accusations and the use of the State apparatus in the repression of opponents and independent voices. The LTDH said it stands in full "solidarity with the Tunisian people who is enduring a worsening economic crisis" and called on authorities to shoulder their responsibility in managing the crisis and defending economic and social rights.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse