Khemais Chammari (7 November 1942 – 1 January 2024) was a Tunisian human rights activist, diplomat, and politician of the Movement of Socialist Democrats (MDS).[1] He was sentenced to prison many times by the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Khemais Chammari | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Tunisia | |
| In office 20 March 1994 – 17 July 1996 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 November 1942 Tunis, French Tunisia |
| Died | 1 January 2024 (aged 81) |
| Political party | MDS |
| Occupation | Human rights activist Diplomat |
Biography edit
Born in Tunis on 7 November 1942, Chammari earned a degree in economic sciences and sociology.[2] In 1963, he began campaigning for peace and human rights after a conference in Florence on dialogue between Jews and Muslims.[3] From there, he decided to fight against the Tunisian dictatorship, becoming Secretary-General of the Tunisian Human Rights League, then as vice-president from 1982 to 1994. He also served as vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights from 1982 to 1992.[4]
Chammari was a member of the political movement Perspectives tunisiennes and the MDS party.[5] In 1984, he publicly voiced his opposition to the death penalty.[3] During his political activism, he was arrested five times between 1966 and 1987.[3] In 1994, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies with the MDS and joined the parliamentary opposition. However, the Chamber of Deputies voted to strip his parliamentary immunity on 21 November 1995 and he was arrested on 10 May 1996. On 17 July 1996, he was officially removed from his position and sentenced to five years in prison. While imprisoned, he was deprived of medical care and outside information.[6][7] Subject to strong international pressure, he was released from prison on 30 December 1996 on the grounds of his deteriorating health.[8][9]
After his release, Chammari went into exile before returning to Tunisia in 2004.[2] During this time, he served on the board of directors of EuroMed Rights.[10] In February 2005, he was due to attend a conference of Arab leaders in Algiers, but was expelled from Algerian territory due to alleged links between himself and Algerian Islamist terrorists.[11] On 18 October of that year, he brought together leaders of different Tunisian political parties to create a united opposition to Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, mainly comprising Islamist groups. He then organized a hunger strike which lasted 32 days. However, this move led to greater international visibility for Islamist leader Rached Ghannouchi and his temporary closeness with Ben Ali.[12] In December 2007, he proposed texts on gender equality and freedom of conscience.[11]
In 2011, after the Tunisian Revolution, Chammari was named Ambassador of Tunisia to UNESCO, a position he held for two years.[2] In 2014, he desired to become president of the Truth and Dignity Commission, but instead rallied for the campaign of Sihem Bensedrine.[2]
Khemais Chammari died on 1 January 2024, at the age of 81.[13]
Distinctions edit
- Prix des Droits de l'homme de la République française (1990)
- Nuremberg Human Rights Award (1997)[3]
- National Order of Merit (2018)[2]
References edit
- ^ "La Présidence du Gouvernement annonce le décès du militant Khemaïs Chammari". News Day FR (in French). 1 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Ben Zineb, Myriam (3 January 2024). "Mort de Khemaïes Chammari : la Tunisie perd l'une de ses grandes figures". Business News (in French). Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Khémaïs Chammari". Human Rights Office City of Nuremberg.
- ^ "Khemaies Chammari, le Kissinger tunisien". Le Nouvel Observateur (in French). 12 October 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ Belhassine, Hedy (5 January 2024). "Khemaïs Chammari, militant tunisien". Mediapart (in French). Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Tunisia: Further information on: legal concern / prisoner of conscience: Khemais Chammari". Amnesty International. 18 July 1998. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Human rights of parliamentarians". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Beijing. 21 September 1996. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Tunisia Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996". United States Department of State. 30 January 1997. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Le retour de Chammari". Jeune Afrique (in French). 23 February 2004. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Décès du militant des droits de l'Homme Khémaïes Chammari". Mosaïque FM (in French). 1 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Campagne de diffamation à l'encontre de M. Khémaïs Chammari". World Organisation Against Torture (in French). 12 December 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ Dahmani, Frida (27 October 2015). "Tunisie : le Mouvement du 18 octobre 2005, 10 ans après". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Tunisie : La présidence du gouvernement annonce le décès du militant Khemaïs Chammari". Gnet News (in French). 2 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.