No reference to the Nakabat Al Moalimin Party could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, a June 1995 article reported that in February of that year, teachers had called a one-day strike following the breakdown of negotiations for higher wages and improved facilities (Political Risk Services June 1995). Responding to the strike action, the government arrested three of the teachers' trade union officials (ibid). As well, a 10 February 2001 article listed individuals who, according to the "Tunisian Ennahdha Islamic opposition (Zeitouna) web site," were "currently under siege" (BBC 10 Feb. 2001). Included on the list of 24 people are two members of the "secondary education union" and one member of the "teacher and union delegate" (ibid).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Zeitouna website [in French]. 8 February 2001. "Several Human Rights Activists Reportedly Attacked, Besieged by Police." (BBC Summary 10 Feb. 2001/NEXIS)

Political Risk Services, International Country Risk Guide: Middle East and North Africa. June 1995. "Tunisia Politics." (Information Access Company/NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Europa World Year Book 2000

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Middle East International

Middle East and North Africa 2000

Middle East Report

New African

Political Handbook of the World, 1999

Research Directorate. Country File, 1994-January 2000

Oral sources:

Research Professor with Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University was unable to provide information

Unsuccessful attempt to contact Arab Institute for Human Rights in Tunisia

Unsuccessful attempt to contact Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia

Unsuccessful attempt to contact Union générale tunisienne du travail

Internet sites, including:

Africa Daily

Africa Online

AllAfrica.com

Amnesty International

Arab Human Rights Netcentre

Arab Institute for Human Rights

Comité pour les Respect des Libertés et des Droits de l'Homme en Tunisie

Global Unions

Human Rights Internet

Human Rights Watch

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

Labourstart

Le Maghreb des Droits de l'Homme

North African News

Trade Unions in the Arab World

"Tunisia: Annual Violations of Trade Union Rights" (2000)

Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights

Union générale tunisienne du travail

UNICEF

World Federation of Teacher's Unions

World News Connection