Pirate Parties condemn Tunisia's unjust arrest of Pirate Party Members and Free Speech Activists.

Since mid-December 2010, waves of protest have engulfed Tunisia, where throughout the country, people have expressed dissatisfaction with the government of Zineel-Abidine Ben Ali, the current president.

Pirate Parties from over 20 countries[1], deplore the violent reactions of the law enforcement agencies against Tunisians and denounce the arrests and disappearances of many bloggers, artists, activists and political dissidents in Tunisia.

On the 6th of January 2011, blogger and activist Hamadi Kaloutcha, and rapper "El General" (real name: Hamada Ben Aoun) were arrested by the police for questioning. Later that day, Azyz Ammami, Slim Amamou and Slah Eddine Kchouk, graduate students and members of the Pirate Party of Tunisia were also arrested. To date, no formal arrest warrant has been filed against them and there has not been any news regarding their current situation.

Pirate Parties around the World condemn these acts against freedom of expression, human rights and democracy, and call upon governments take firm action against Tunisia for these recent events. Party members are advised to refrain from visiting Tunisia until the human rights situation has improved.

An interview with Slim Amamou, recorded the day before his arrest, can be downloaded here.

[1]: Including, at the time of publication Pirate Parties from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Catalonia, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Uruguay and the Young Pirates Germany.