Tunisian lawyers strike to protest police brutality News
Tunisian lawyers strike to protest police brutality

[JURIST] The vast majority of Tunisia's 1400 lawyers went on a one-day strike Wednesday to protest alleged police brutality last week when 200 police stormed a Tunis court to remove 50 lawyers gathered in opposition to an upcoming visit by Israli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for the UN-sponsored World Information Summit [official website]. Sharon will be the first Israeli leader in 57 years to come to Tunisia; his visit is supported by the Tunisian government [official website in French] but opposed by Tunisian human rights groups who object to Israel's tratement of Palestinians. Earlier this month the Tunisian government arrested a lawyer and rights activist who posted two articles critical of Sharon's visit on the Internet; 50 lawyers launched a hunger strike Wednesday in his support. Reuters has more.