20101102
Daily News

Eight Tunisians have been sentenced to two to six years in prison for incitement to join a terrorist organization. Aged 23 to 35, the defendants were tried under the Terrorism Act in Tunis, according to their lawyer Me Samir Ben Amor.

Some were accused of hiding information on illegal activities in their possession from Tunisian authorities; others were sentenced for inciting the commission of terrorist offences and to join a terrorist organization, AFP said on Monday.

After serving their sentences, the defendants, who live in Ettadhamoun neighbourhood, near Tunis, will be subjected to administrative control over a period of five years, court officials said.

Me Samir Ben Amor, who is also Secretary General of the Association for defence of Political Prisoners (AISPP), said he would appeal the ruling of the Tunis court.

The Tunisian authorities estimate at 300 the number of Tunisians convicted or prosecuted under the Terrorism Act. Associations and lawyers advance on their side the number of 2,000 persons affected by this law.