Tunisian Journalist Ben Brik Had His Day in Court
And he was very forceful testifying that he was framed by government agents who successfully pressed concocted assault and other grave charges that could cost him a five-year prison sentence.
Taoufik Ben Brik (above) is paying a high price so far for being one of the most vocal critics of the regime of President Ben Ali.
His imprisonment took place during the government's crackdown on independent journalists who denounced the Oct. 25 presidential elections, traditionally won by Ben Ali, as fraudulent.
Today, Ben Brik told the court that he was the victim of a police trap when confronted charges of having assaulted a woman and damaging her car.
Agence France Press reports that one of Ben Brik's attorneys brought up the fact that there were no witnesses for the prosecution in the courtroom and questioned the authenticity of his client's alleged confession.
In this travesty of justice, Ben Brik is charged with damaging other people's property, violation of public morality standards, defamation and extreme aggression. His verdict is scheduled to be announced on Nov. 26.
Taoufik Ben Brik (above) is paying a high price so far for being one of the most vocal critics of the regime of President Ben Ali.
His imprisonment took place during the government's crackdown on independent journalists who denounced the Oct. 25 presidential elections, traditionally won by Ben Ali, as fraudulent.
Today, Ben Brik told the court that he was the victim of a police trap when confronted charges of having assaulted a woman and damaging her car.
Agence France Press reports that one of Ben Brik's attorneys brought up the fact that there were no witnesses for the prosecution in the courtroom and questioned the authenticity of his client's alleged confession.
Authorised to sit on health grounds, Ben Brik objected "that's not mine, that's a different signature," while the judge shouted for order in a noisy courtroom.
According to his French lawyer William Bourdon, the case against Ben Brik is "entirely made up." He drew parallels between the case in Tunis and another in Paris, which "use the same logic of turning a political opponent into a common criminal."
Ben Brik is due to appear before a Paris court in January for alleged violence against a woman. The affair dates back to March 2004, when Ben Brik visited France with the plaintiff, Kaouther Kouki.
Two French lawyers, the secretary general of Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF - Reporters Without Borders) and a member of the European parliament were in the Tunis courtroom with three members of Ben Brik's family.
According to his French lawyer William Bourdon, the case against Ben Brik is "entirely made up." He drew parallels between the case in Tunis and another in Paris, which "use the same logic of turning a political opponent into a common criminal."
Ben Brik is due to appear before a Paris court in January for alleged violence against a woman. The affair dates back to March 2004, when Ben Brik visited France with the plaintiff, Kaouther Kouki.
Two French lawyers, the secretary general of Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF - Reporters Without Borders) and a member of the European parliament were in the Tunis courtroom with three members of Ben Brik's family.
In this travesty of justice, Ben Brik is charged with damaging other people's property, violation of public morality standards, defamation and extreme aggression. His verdict is scheduled to be announced on Nov. 26.
The eyes of the international press freedom movement are trained on Tunisia.
Print
Comments