URGENT ACTION

Released on Bail after forcible return

Tunisian national Ali Ben Sassi Toumi was released on bail on 10 August, after having spent eight days in detention. He has been accused of “membership of a terrorist organization", "providing expertise and logistical support to a terrorist organization" and fraud. He has been told by police that he must not leave his house or meet others without first obtaining their authorization.

Following his forcible return from Italy on 2 August, Ali Ben Sassi Toumi was arrested on arrival at the airport in the capital Tunis. He was then taken to the State Security Department of the Ministry of Interior and kept in pre-arraignment police custody (garde à vue) until 7 August. On the same day, he was brought before an investigating judge at the Court of First Instance in Tunis who remanded him in detention at Mornaguia Prison.

On 10 August, he was brought before the investigating judge and questioned in the presence of a lawyer assigned to him by the court, although the lawyer engaged by his relatives to represent him had sought the investigating judge’s permission to visit Ali Ben Sassi Toumi in prison only minutes earlier, but without success. Ali Ben Sassi Toumi was then released on bail.

On 11 August, Ali Ben Sassi Toumi went out from his house but was recalled by a phone call from his uncle, acting on police instructions. When he returned, police were present who told him that he is not permitted to go out or meet other people without first informing the police and obtaining their authorization. Consequently, he is effectively restricted to his home.

Investigations into the terrorism-related charges levelled against Ali Ben Sassi Toumi are still ongoing. However, he is expected to appear in court on 14 August to be tried in connection with the fraud charges.

Amnesty International spoke to Ami Ben Sassi Toumi following his release. He has expressed his gratitude to all those who sent appeals on his behalf.

No further action is requested by members.

This is the first update of UA 210/09. Further information: http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE30/009/2009/en

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Further Information on UA: 210/09 Index: MDE 30/011/2009 Issue Date: 12 August 2009