January 25, 2016 – Sfax
Beaten up and abandoned near a trash container
Mounir went out despite the curfew to get cigarettes from neighbours. He was intercepted by a police patrol on the Mahdia road, Kilometer 4, and was asked for his ID while being patronized for infringing the curfew.
According to his lawyer, Chahine Khelifi, who denounced a case of torture by 3 officers, amounting to a murder attempt :
“On Monday 25 around 23:30, Mounir Abdouli is approached in his hometown of Sfax by 3 officers under influence in Berlingot vehicle and gets beaten up by 3 men who reproach him for violating the curfew regulation (22:00). Mounir explained them he just wanted to get cigarettes. They proceeded with the usual checks, then one of them asks him why he’s not wanted by the police. My client replied that he is a patriot and loves his country, detailing he did his service time and defended his country. The officer punched him in the face.
Inexplicably, 3 officers started to hit him in the face and all over his body. When Mounir fell down on the ground, a 4th agent pressed his colleagues to stop it, telling them they were about to kill him.
They totally tore him to pieces. Mounir will have to undergo 2 surgeries. We’re the first ones to support our police who do an incredible job at protecting et securing the country, but we also must denounce such intolerable behavior. Whatever the circumstances, no one has the right to inflict such violence on another human being.”
The aggressors then dumped him unconscious near a dumpster before leaving the scene. Some neighbors found him there, still unconscious, in the morning of the next day. He was transported to an ICU unit at Hédi Chaker hospital where he underwent 2 surgeries.
The Attorney general opened an investigation. The Sfax Police District Chief contacted Mounir to apologize and said he was outraged about the officers bahavior. Mounir lodged a complaint against his aggressors.
Physical violence
| X | Kicks, punches, slaps |
| Feet / knees on the nape of the neck, chest or face | |
| X | Blows to the victim while under control and/or on the ground |
| Blows to the ears | |
| Strangulation / chokehold | |
| Painful armlock | |
| Fingers forced backwards | |
| Spraying with water | |
| Dog bites | |
| Hair pulling | |
| Tirage par les cheveux | |
| Painful tightening of colson ties or handcuffs | |
| Painfully pulling by colson ties or handcuffs | |
| Use of gloves | |
| Use of firearm | |
| Use of “Bean bags” (a coton sack containing tiny lead bullets) | |
| Use of FlashBall weapon | |
| Use of sound grenade | |
| Use of dispersal grenade | |
| Use of teargas grenade | |
| Use of rubber bullets weapon (LBD40 type) | |
| X | Use of batons |
| Use of Pepper Spray | |
| Use of Taser gun |
Psychological violence
| Charge of disturbing public order | |
| Charge of rebellion | |
| Accusation of beatings to officer | |
| Charge of threatening officer | |
| Charge of insulting an officer | |
| Threat with a weapon | |
| Aggressive behaviour, disrespect, insults | |
| X | Calls to end torment remained unheeded |
| Sexist remarks | |
| Homophobic remarks | |
| Racist comments | |
| Violence by fellow police officers | |
| Passivity of police colleagues | |
| Lack or refusal of the police officer to identify him or herself | |
| Vexing or intimidating identity check | |
| Intimidation or arrest of witnesses | |
| Prevented from taking photographs or from filming the scene | |
| Refusal to notify someone or to telephone | |
| Refusal to administer a breathalyzer | |
| Refusal to fasten the seatbelt during transport | |
| Refusal to file a complaint | |
| Refusal to allow medical care or medication | |
| Lies, cover-ups, disappearance of evidence | |
| Undress before witnesses of the opposite sex | |
| Bend down naked in front of witnesses | |
| Lack of surveillance or monitoring during detention | |
| Lack of signature in the Personal Effects Register during detention | |
| Confiscation, deterioration, destruction of personal effects | |
| Pressure to sign documents | |
| X | Absence of a report |
| Deprivation during detention (water, food) | |
| Inappropriate sanitary conditions during detention (temperature, hygiene, light) | |
| Complacency of doctors | |
| Kettling (corraling protestors to isolate them from the rest of the demonstration) | |
| Prolonged uncomfortable position |
- 28.01.2016 – Opening of an investigation
- 26.01.2016 – Discovery of Mounir and hospitalization
- 25.01.2016 – Aggression of Mounir
- Lawyer :
- Collective :
- Donations :