- Title: TUNISIA-ANTI-TERROR LAW/REAX Tunisians react to new terror law
- Date: 28th July 2015
- Summary: TUNIS, TUNISIA, (27 JULY, 2015) (REUTERS) POLICE CAR IN HABIB BOURGUIBA AVENUE IN TUNIS VARIOUS HABIB BOURGUIBA AVENUE HABIB BOURGUIBA AVENUE CLOCK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic/French) TUNISIAN WOMAN, MAROUA SGHAYER, SAYING: "I am really happy that the law was voted in because we really need to enforce this act. The country is in need for a strong legislation so people can take more precautions. I am really happy that it was voted even if it would have been better if it was voted earlier." MINISTRY OF INTERIOR TUNISIAN FLAGS VARIOUS PEOPLE WALKING IN TUNIS STREETS (SOUNDBITE) (French/Arabic) TUNISIAN MAN, ARAFAT CHIHI, SAYING: "If no actions are taken, the law would remain ink on paper. I mean that we need to do our best to find the most effective organization first of all to dissuade terrorists." BARDO MUSEUM ENTRANCE SIGN READING IN ARABIC "BARDO SAYS NO TO TERRORISM" EMNA GUELLALI, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH (HRW) IN TUNISIA, IN HER OFFICE (SOUNDBITE), (Arabic) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH OFFICE DIRECTOR, EMNA GUELLALI, SAYING: "We are concerned about the extension of the temporary detention without the presence of a lawyer, also about the introduction of death penalty and the third important concern we have involves the possibility to resort to secret trials and anonymous witnesses. All of this can compromise the right to a fair trial." VARIOUS HABIB BOURGUIBA AVENUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic)TUNISIAN MAN, RACHED HAMDOU, SAYING: "Even if they were terrorists and if they committed crimes, like killing soldiers, for the death penalty I worry. Not for the terrorists, but that someday it could be applied to innocent people." IBN KHALDOUN STATUE BARBED WIRE THE MEDINA ENTRANCE CRAFT SHOPS
- Embargoed: 12th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Tunisia
- Country: Tunisia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAEOLZ4B43LO6TA2ULVPJQ4KZ3G
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: There were mixed reactions on the streets of the Tunisian capital on Monday (July 27) to a new terror law that allows the death penalty for those convicted on terror charges.
Parliament overwhelmingly passed the legislation which comes in the wake of last month's militant attack when a gunman killed 38 mostly British tourists in the resort of Sousse.
Company director and Tunis resident Maroua Sghayer said she is fully behind the new law.
"I am really happy that the law was voted in because we really need to enforce this act. The country is in need for a strong legislation so people can take more precautions. I am really happy that it was voted even if it would have been better if it was voted earlier," she said.
Another resident, Arafat Chichi, said steps need to be taken to prevent further attacks.
"If no actions are taken, the law would remain ink on paper. I mean that we need to do our best to find the most effective organization first of all to dissuade terrorists," he said.
The bill had been debated in parliament for years but was accelerated after the Sousse attack. MPs approved the bill by a margin of 174-0 with 10 abstentions.
The law replaces one from 2003 which then-president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, toppled in a popular uprising in 2011, had used to crush dissent.
Human Rights Watch criticised the bill, which also eases arrests of suspects. Their Tunisia office director, Emna Guellali, said the group had a number of concerns about the new law.
"We are concerned about the extension of the temporary detention without the presence of a lawyer, also about the introduction of death penalty and the third important concern we have involve the possibility to resort to secret trials and anonymous witnesses. All of this can compromise the right to a fair trial," she said.
Some Tunisians were worried that the death penalty could be misapplied.
"Even if they were terrorists and if they committed crimes, like killing soldiers, for the death penalty I worry. Not for the terrorists, but that someday it could be applied to innocent people," said engineer Rached Hamdou.
The Sousse attack was preceded by one in March where two gunmen killed 21 foreign tourists and a policeman at Tunis's Bardo Museum. Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.
Tunisia has undergone a largely peaceful transition to democracy since its 2011 popular uprising. But its army has been fighting a rise in Islamist militancy.
Tunisia is especially concerned about militants entering from adjacent Libya, where IS has established a presence amid chaos caused by two rival governments battling for control, leaving a security vacuum. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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