- TUNIS: Rights groups are angry over a new Tunisian law that they fear could further stifle freedom of expression for the country's democracy activists.
The law, adopted by Tunisia's Parliament earlier this month, makes it a crime to “contact agents of a foreign state” with the goal of hurting “Tunisia's vital interests” or its economic interest.
While the government says the law is only about protecting economic security, rights groups say the vague wording is aimed at preventing activists from contacting international human rights groups.
A statement by five leading international rights groups Thursday says the law will “allow an increase of harassment” against Tunisians and give more legal leeway to prosecute them. Tunisian authorities deny this.