TIMANIT I TMURT N YEQVAYLIYEN
MOUVEMENT FOR AUTONOMIE OF KABYLIA
MAK

M. FERHAT MEHENNI DENIED ENTRY TO TUNISIA

On this 10th day of December, 2009, Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mr. Ferhat Mehenni, a Kabyle political opponent to the algerian regime, was denied entry to Tunisia at the Tunis-Carthage international Airport. By executing on demand these orders of dirty work from the algerian dictator, and his pyroman minister of interior, Tunis further tarnishes its image, but also shows contempt towards a universally recognized right: That of free movement of persons.

On insisting demands from his 84 years old mother, who desires to see him on more time before leaving this world, the son convened to meet with her to go to Tunisia. The choice of this country is imposed on the mother by proximity by means of land travel on the one hand, and the impossibility to obtain a EU entry visa on the other. Mr Mhenni lives in Paris. Mr. Mehenni could of course have traveled himself to Kabylie, in Algeria, had it not been for “wanted for questioning warrant” issued against him about a year ago, by the algerian regime for unspecified reason. Mr. Mehenni had already been detained without trial and tortured in the past, for his political views. His freedom but also his life are at jeopardy in algeria.

Mr Mehenni arrived to Tunis on Air France flight # AF2584, around 15:15, and proceeded to the Passport Control Booth, at which point, the agent’s computer reports a warrant against his name in Algeria.

On the loud speaker of one of the border patrol officers, Mr. mehenni hears “We do not want any trouble with Algeria !” - A phone discussion which could only be triggered by insufficient data in the database, or perhaps the legitimacy of the database itself is the trigger of contention between Police and Immigration. He was immediately deported in the same plan on flight AF2585, thus preventing a mother expected to arrive the following day to embraperhaps for the last time, her exiled son.

Forbidding a a peaceful patriotic Citizen to go back home, he manages to forbid him other countries as well.

Whilst ,the submissive Tunisia to the will of Algeria is Tunisians’ business, that the despotic algerian regime, it is ours. This episod which could have worst ending for the victim, should remind the opinion of algeria’s hegemonic and dictatorial temptations towards neighboring Peoples. It is yet another demonstration of, how much the construction of a Kabyle State is a vital necessity for the survival and future of the children of Kabylia.

Angered by this act of contempt on the freedom of a peaceful democrat, the MAK elevates its solum protestation against Tunisia and algeria before the United Nations, the European Union, and all concerned NGOs amongst which Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and all other International Human Rights watchdogs.

On this symbolic day of celebration of Human Rights during which Mr. Barak Obama receives the Noble Peace Prize, it is the algerian regime who must be worry about its future, and not freedom lovers and peaceful political activists.

Kabylia, this December 12th day of 2009.