Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing plight of a person (details supplied); if he has had contact with the Tunisian authorities regarding this case; if he is satisfied that the United Nations convention against torture ratified by Tunisia on 23 September 1988 is respected there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3075/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I stated previously in my reply of 19 January, I am aware of the case of Dr. Sadok Shourou, who was re-arrested on 3 December 2008, shortly after serving nearly 18 years of a 30 year sentence for his leadership of an Islamist group allegedly attempting to overthrow the Tunisian government. I understand that Dr. Shourou was arrested for the second time on foot of comments he had made publicly and to the media about his earlier detention. He had also urged legalisation of the an-Nahdha political movement, of which he is the former president. The Tunisian authorities banned the an-Nahdha Party in 1991 on the grounds that they viewed it as an extremist organisation.

Dr. Shourou was sentenced on 13 December 2008 to a further year in prison on charges of resuming his political activities and speaking on behalf of a banned movement. His appeal in March 2009 was denied. Reports indicate that he remains in custody. I understand that there are concerns about his health, given the duration of his earlier period in detention and that he is now 62 years of age. Dr Shourou's case has been raised at UN level by a number of NGOs, including in the context of the Universal Periodic Review of Tunisia at the UN Human Rights Council in April 2008. It is possible that this contributed to Dr. Shourou's release later that year.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the question of torture has expressed some concerns and has requested a visit to Tunisia on a number of occasions since 1998. I note that the recommendations arising from the Universal Periodic Review, which were supported by Tunisia, include a recommendation that Tunisia consider cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture. I would hope that such cooperation on the part of the Tunisian authorities would be forthcoming.

The issue of freedom of expression and human rights generally in Tunisia is an important one and is subject to regular consideration at EU level. The EU has supported measures by the Tunisian authorities to promote pluralism, democracy and freedom of expression and of association. The EU also has a regular dialogue with Tunisia on human rights within the framework of the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement. Regrettably, the latest meeting of the sub-committee on human rights and democracy, which should have taken place under the Swedish Presidency, had to be postponed, at Tunisia's request. I hope that it will be re-arranged during the current Presidency.