Alert statement after charges dropped against Mehdi Barhoumi and case closed

International Alert’s Mehdi Barhoumi and two friends, Monther Saoudi, a member of the Citizen Mapping Association, and Sami Hmaied, an independent activist, have been cleared by the Cantonal Court of Tunis of “insulting police” under the controversial ‘article 125’ legislation. The law has been widely used this year to silence acts of peaceful protest or dissent.

Mehdi Barhoumi denied the charges levelled against him, which have been dropped and the case closed by the Judge. He has pledged to continue promoting the economic and social rights of marginalised people in Tunisia.

Olfa Lamloum, International Alert’s Tunisia Country Director, said: “International Alert thanks civil society in Tunisia for their solidarity in demanding justice was served.”

Ends.

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