Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TUNIS126
2009-03-05 15:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
MOHAMED ABBOU PREVENTED FROM TRAVELING FOR THE 6TH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHTU #0126/01 0641552 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051552Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6021 INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 0177
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000126
SIPDIS
NEA/MAG (PATTERSON/HAYES); DRL (JOHNSTONE/KLARMAN)
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS
SUBJECT: MOHAMED ABBOU PREVENTED FROM TRAVELING FOR THE 6TH
TIME
REF: A. 07 TUNIS 1355
B. 07 TUNIS 1044
Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000126
SIPDIS
NEA/MAG (PATTERSON/HAYES); DRL (JOHNSTONE/KLARMAN)
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS
SUBJECT: MOHAMED ABBOU PREVENTED FROM TRAVELING FOR THE 6TH
TIME
REF: A. 07 TUNIS 1355
B. 07 TUNIS 1044
Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On March 3, security forces prevented human rights
activist Mohamed Abbou from traveling to the United Kingdom
(UK) and Holland. This marks the sixth time since Abbou's
release from prison in 2007 that authorities have prevented
him from leaving the country. Abbou was to have met
officially with the Dutch government while in Holland, and
the Dutch Ambassador in Tunisia discussed the matter with the
GOT. End Summary.
--------------
No Travel for Abbou
--------------
2. (C) Lawyer and blogger Mohamed Abbou tried to leave
Tunisia March 3 to attend an Amnesty International conference
on terrorism, security, and human rights in the UK. He also
planned to stop in Holland en route at the invitation of the
Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Abbou told PolOff on
March 4 that he was blocked by airport security at a passport
control point. The officials did not provide an explanation,
but told him he was not allowed to travel. He told PolOff he
would continue to attempt to travel, but assumed the
prohibition on his leaving the country would continue.
-------------- --
Despite the Term of His Sentence Having Expired
-------------- --
3. (C) Abbou had been sentenced to three and a half years
in prison on April 28, 2005 for defamation of the judicial
system and assault. He was convicted shortly after posting
articles online criticizing Tunisia's prisons. He was
released early on July 24, 2007 (Ref B). Had Abbou served
his entire sentence, he would have been released in October
2008. In August 2007, GOT officials told Abbou that he was
subject to travel restrictions until the term of his original
sentence expired, and that he must prove that he is no longer
subject to a travel ban.
4. (C) Abbou said he lodged a complaint with the Ministry of
Justice several months ago arguing that the terms of his
release did not include travel restrictions. Even if the GOT
chose to uphold a travel ban, he opined, his original
sentence, and thus the travel ban, would have ended in
October 2008. Abbou told PolOff that he has not received and
does not expect a response to his complaint. March 3 marks
Abbou's sixth attempt to travel since his release; his prior
attempt was on December 10, 2008 as he was trying to board a
flight to Beirut for the Independent Arab Press Forum.
5. (C) Dutch Ambassador to Tunisia Rita Dulci Rahman told
the Ambassador on March 3 that she had discussed the issue of
Abbou's travel with MFA Director General for European Affairs
Mohamed Lessir. According to Rahman, Lessir strongly
objected to the Dutch government's having invited Abbou for
an official meeting. She added that the Foreign Minister has
requested a meeting with her, presumably to underscore the
GOT's displeasure over the Dutch invitation.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The GOT continues to impose significant restrictions
on Mohammad Abbou's travel. While Abbou would certainly
criticize the GOT if he were permitted to travel abroad, the
GOT's actions are drawing at least as much attention as would
Abbou's words. Moreover, Abbou has been able to voice his
opinions (e.g., on al Jazeera) despite the GOT's travel ban.
Although we do not know for certain the reasons for the GOT's
continued restrictions on Abbou, they may be related to the
GOT's continuing sensitivity to criticism in the run up to
the presidential and legislative elections.
7. (C) The invitation by the Dutch government introduces a
new dynamic into the situation that may push the GOT further
toward lifting the travel restriction, although pressure from
the Dutch alone is unlikely to be sufficient. We will stay
in close touch with the Dutch embassy on its efforts, and if
the travel ban is not lifted encourage the Dutch ambassador
to raise Abbou's status with her EU colleagues. A collective
intervention by the EU (or even a portion of the EU),perhaps
together with the United States, might well have greater
effect. End Comment.
Godec
SIPDIS
NEA/MAG (PATTERSON/HAYES); DRL (JOHNSTONE/KLARMAN)
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO TS
SUBJECT: MOHAMED ABBOU PREVENTED FROM TRAVELING FOR THE 6TH
TIME
REF: A. 07 TUNIS 1355
B. 07 TUNIS 1044
Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On March 3, security forces prevented human rights
activist Mohamed Abbou from traveling to the United Kingdom
(UK) and Holland. This marks the sixth time since Abbou's
release from prison in 2007 that authorities have prevented
him from leaving the country. Abbou was to have met
officially with the Dutch government while in Holland, and
the Dutch Ambassador in Tunisia discussed the matter with the
GOT. End Summary.
--------------
No Travel for Abbou
--------------
2. (C) Lawyer and blogger Mohamed Abbou tried to leave
Tunisia March 3 to attend an Amnesty International conference
on terrorism, security, and human rights in the UK. He also
planned to stop in Holland en route at the invitation of the
Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Abbou told PolOff on
March 4 that he was blocked by airport security at a passport
control point. The officials did not provide an explanation,
but told him he was not allowed to travel. He told PolOff he
would continue to attempt to travel, but assumed the
prohibition on his leaving the country would continue.
-------------- --
Despite the Term of His Sentence Having Expired
-------------- --
3. (C) Abbou had been sentenced to three and a half years
in prison on April 28, 2005 for defamation of the judicial
system and assault. He was convicted shortly after posting
articles online criticizing Tunisia's prisons. He was
released early on July 24, 2007 (Ref B). Had Abbou served
his entire sentence, he would have been released in October
2008. In August 2007, GOT officials told Abbou that he was
subject to travel restrictions until the term of his original
sentence expired, and that he must prove that he is no longer
subject to a travel ban.
4. (C) Abbou said he lodged a complaint with the Ministry of
Justice several months ago arguing that the terms of his
release did not include travel restrictions. Even if the GOT
chose to uphold a travel ban, he opined, his original
sentence, and thus the travel ban, would have ended in
October 2008. Abbou told PolOff that he has not received and
does not expect a response to his complaint. March 3 marks
Abbou's sixth attempt to travel since his release; his prior
attempt was on December 10, 2008 as he was trying to board a
flight to Beirut for the Independent Arab Press Forum.
5. (C) Dutch Ambassador to Tunisia Rita Dulci Rahman told
the Ambassador on March 3 that she had discussed the issue of
Abbou's travel with MFA Director General for European Affairs
Mohamed Lessir. According to Rahman, Lessir strongly
objected to the Dutch government's having invited Abbou for
an official meeting. She added that the Foreign Minister has
requested a meeting with her, presumably to underscore the
GOT's displeasure over the Dutch invitation.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The GOT continues to impose significant restrictions
on Mohammad Abbou's travel. While Abbou would certainly
criticize the GOT if he were permitted to travel abroad, the
GOT's actions are drawing at least as much attention as would
Abbou's words. Moreover, Abbou has been able to voice his
opinions (e.g., on al Jazeera) despite the GOT's travel ban.
Although we do not know for certain the reasons for the GOT's
continued restrictions on Abbou, they may be related to the
GOT's continuing sensitivity to criticism in the run up to
the presidential and legislative elections.
7. (C) The invitation by the Dutch government introduces a
new dynamic into the situation that may push the GOT further
toward lifting the travel restriction, although pressure from
the Dutch alone is unlikely to be sufficient. We will stay
in close touch with the Dutch embassy on its efforts, and if
the travel ban is not lifted encourage the Dutch ambassador
to raise Abbou's status with her EU colleagues. A collective
intervention by the EU (or even a portion of the EU),perhaps
together with the United States, might well have greater
effect. End Comment.
Godec