The general amnesty for political prisoners in Tunisia has come into force upon signature by the Tunisian president Acting Foued Mebazaa, the decree law as announced by the official news agency TAP. Under this provision, which was decided on Friday, all those tried or prosecuted before February 14, 2011 will benefit from this amnesty.
According to the lawyer Samir Ben Amor, the winners would be between 300 and 500 political prisoners, although some human rights organizations, as recorded by Reuters suggest the number could climb to a thousand. Last week the National Assembly (Congress) and House of Councillors (Senate) approved grant full powers to the president to rule by decree, thereby avoiding the need to pass laws in Parliament, from the old regime.
Therefore, once the government gave its approval to the general amnesty only required a presidential decree to approve final legislation. Secretary of State to the Prime Minister Ridha Belhadj was quoted by the TAP, said that this decree law puts an end to "a period of abuses and violations, open an era of reconciliation and prepare the objective conditions" for a transitional period and the organization of elections "in the best possible conditions." He explained that the crimes covered by this amnesty concern the internal security of the State were brought to justice under the law on terrorism, the press law and the laws on demonstrations, as well as communications code, different items Penal Code and other regulations, in particular the Code of Military.
This decision also provides that any person prosecuted under the common law crimes for their political or union activities, would benefit from the amnesty, he said. The first Transitional Government of Tunisia, with several ministers of the former regime in key positions, and adopted a draft law on general amnesty few days after the flight from the country of Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, on 14 January.
However, the project was not officially adopted or developed and many Tunisians reported in recent weeks that hundreds of political prisoners remained in prison. In fact, many families have been waiting for news of the release of their relatives imprisoned for weeks in tents outside various prisons.
On Wednesday, hundreds of people demonstrated outside the Ministry of Justice to demand the release of their imprisoned relatives, despite the country's authorities said they had already released some 3,000 prisoners. During the 23-year term of Ben Ali, thousands of political opponents were imprisoned, especially those belonging to Islamist parties or movements, against those who unleashed a ferocious repression during the nineties.
Meanwhile, at least 2,500 Tunisians have participated in a demonstration in central Tunis to demand "a secular republic," where they can live in harmony Muslims, Jews and Christians. Protesters have focused on the Avenue Bourguiba, the main thoroughfare of the capital of this North African country, and participants were artists, journalists, opposition leaders and citizens of diverse ideas, beliefs and ages.
Almost at the same time it has held another demonstration in front of the French Embassy, also on Avenue Bourguiba, in which about a thousand people, convened in social networks have called the departure of the French ambassador, Boris Bouillon, as participants of the protest said. "Bouillon go, ashamed to France," chanted the demonstrators who believe that the officer has humiliated the Tunisian because of their behavior with local journalists.
The protesters accuse the French ambassador had described as "stupid, deplorable and senseless" the questions posed by journalists on Thursday during a press conference in the Tunisian capital. 
According to the lawyer Samir Ben Amor, the winners would be between 300 and 500 political prisoners, although some human rights organizations, as recorded by Reuters suggest the number could climb to a thousand. Last week the National Assembly (Congress) and House of Councillors (Senate) approved grant full powers to the president to rule by decree, thereby avoiding the need to pass laws in Parliament, from the old regime.
Therefore, once the government gave its approval to the general amnesty only required a presidential decree to approve final legislation. Secretary of State to the Prime Minister Ridha Belhadj was quoted by the TAP, said that this decree law puts an end to "a period of abuses and violations, open an era of reconciliation and prepare the objective conditions" for a transitional period and the organization of elections "in the best possible conditions." He explained that the crimes covered by this amnesty concern the internal security of the State were brought to justice under the law on terrorism, the press law and the laws on demonstrations, as well as communications code, different items Penal Code and other regulations, in particular the Code of Military.
This decision also provides that any person prosecuted under the common law crimes for their political or union activities, would benefit from the amnesty, he said. The first Transitional Government of Tunisia, with several ministers of the former regime in key positions, and adopted a draft law on general amnesty few days after the flight from the country of Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, on 14 January.
However, the project was not officially adopted or developed and many Tunisians reported in recent weeks that hundreds of political prisoners remained in prison. In fact, many families have been waiting for news of the release of their relatives imprisoned for weeks in tents outside various prisons.
On Wednesday, hundreds of people demonstrated outside the Ministry of Justice to demand the release of their imprisoned relatives, despite the country's authorities said they had already released some 3,000 prisoners. During the 23-year term of Ben Ali, thousands of political opponents were imprisoned, especially those belonging to Islamist parties or movements, against those who unleashed a ferocious repression during the nineties.
Meanwhile, at least 2,500 Tunisians have participated in a demonstration in central Tunis to demand "a secular republic," where they can live in harmony Muslims, Jews and Christians. Protesters have focused on the Avenue Bourguiba, the main thoroughfare of the capital of this North African country, and participants were artists, journalists, opposition leaders and citizens of diverse ideas, beliefs and ages.
Almost at the same time it has held another demonstration in front of the French Embassy, also on Avenue Bourguiba, in which about a thousand people, convened in social networks have called the departure of the French ambassador, Boris Bouillon, as participants of the protest said. "Bouillon go, ashamed to France," chanted the demonstrators who believe that the officer has humiliated the Tunisian because of their behavior with local journalists.
The protesters accuse the French ambassador had described as "stupid, deplorable and senseless" the questions posed by journalists on Thursday during a press conference in the Tunisian capital.
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