A statement condemning the verdict issued against Amna Al Sharqi: Not to prejudice freedom in the name of sanctities
Following the issuance of a ruling to condemn her, on July 14, 2020, by 6 months in prison and 2000 Tunisian dinars fine for violating sanctities and calling for hatred between religions and races, the associations and organizations affiliated with the Observatory for the Defense of the Right to Difference and the Civil Coalition for Individual Freedoms and the associations and organizations that undersign this statement condemn this ruling judicial issued by the Sixth Chamber of the First Instance Court in Tunisia against Amna El Sharqi.
We recall that on May 2, 2020, Amna Al Sharqi published a sarcastic text on her Facebook page entitled “Surat Al-Corona” speaking on the Covid-19 pandemic and simulating the Quranic fence. As a result, she was summoned on May 4 by the police for interrogation. Then, on May 6, she appeared for the same reason in front of the Public Prosecution Office, which decided to prosecute her in accordance with Chapters 52 and 53 of Decree No. 115 of 2011 of November 2, 2011 related to freedom of the press, printing, and publishing for “violating religious rites permitted to practice” and “inciting inter-religious hatred. This makes her subject to a maximum prison sentence of 3 years. This was not achieved in the, as the text of “Surat Al-Corona” does not in any way represent an attack on religious rituals and does not include any discrimination, incitement, or incitement to hatred.
It is also worth noting that articles 52 and 53 are in stark contrast to the provisions of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of opinion, thought and expression in accordance with Article 31. It also guarantees freedom of conscience and belief in its sixth chapter and with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified by Tunisia.
On this basis, the constituent associations of the Observatory for the Defense of the Right to Difference and a number of human rights organizations that follow below express their deep regret at the results of violations of freedoms and freedom of expression in Tunisia and call for:
- 1- Adopting a penal policy that preserves freedom of thought, opinion, and conscience by refraining from following people in order to express their beliefs in any space.
- 2- More professional treatment by the media of such issues and not directing them in order to serve political or factional interests, as the ruling over Amna was leaked and published by the media before it was demarcated in the court book
- 3- Calls upon the undersigning organizations and associations to support Amna Al-Sharqi with all possible means, and call in all platforms for the necessity of devoting freedom of conscience, opinion and expression.
The signatory organisations:
- Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LTDH)
- The Tunisian Judges Association
- Tunisian Association for Democratic Women
- The Association to Activate the Right to Difference
- Tunisian Association for Defending Individual Liberties
- Beity Association
- Bawsala
- The Tunisian Association for the Defense of University Values
- The Tunisian Association of Cultural Mobility
- The convergence society
- “We are not to to be traded” association
- Unity in diversity Association
- Tunisian Association DEMJ for justice and equality
- The Tunisian Association for Combating Violence “Mawjoudin”
- “Chouf” Association
- “Tunisia that we want” Association
- The Tunisian Association for the Amazigh Culture
- Tunisian Association of Rural Women, Jendouba
- The Tunisian Association for Positive Prevention
- League of Female Voters (LET)
- Second Chapter Association
- Association of Female Citizens
- Tunisian Association for Studies on Gender
- Association My Arts Against Me
- Kalam Association
- Tawhida ben Cheikh Group for Research and Action for Women Health
- The National Observatory of Defense of the Civilization of the State
- Association of prospects – the Tunisian worker
- The Association of Arts and Cultures in both sides
- Creation and Creativity Association for Development and Employment
- The Association of Citizenship, development, cultures, and immigration on both sides (CDCMIR)
- The Euro-Mediterranean Rights Network
- Danr Organisation
- “Together” Association
- Tunisian Union of Associative Media
- Shams Association
- Tunisian Female Association for Research on Development (AFTURD)
- Mnemti Assocoation
- Female Voices Association
- Initiative “We exist for equality”
- Association of Street Art
- Citizenship and Freedom Association
- Medenine Association for Development and Strategic Studies
- Zarzis New Visions
- Tunisian Association for the Defense of the Rights of the Child
- Anti-Violence Association
- Ibsar Association for Culture and Entertainment of People with Visual Disabilities
- Yakadha Association
- Hassan Al-Saadawi Foundation for Democracy and Equality
- Tunisian Association for Reproductive Health
- International Federation for Human Rights
- Access Now
- World Organization Against Torture
- Lawyers Without Borders Organisation
- Democratic Transition and Human Rights Support Center (DAAM)