Tunisia

A Tunisian judge has shot down the appeal of jailed journalist and vocal regime critic Taoufik Ben Brik, who claims his six-month prison sentence for assault is politically motivated. The arrest has turned the spotlight on Tunisia's human rights record and soured relations with the country's staunchest ally, France. It also casts doubt on President Ben Ali's insistence that the government is committed to respecting democracy and human rights. The incident supports our view that political freedom will trail economic and security concerns on the list of government priorities for the foreseeable future.

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