Draft Security Law Raises Concerns About Rights in New Tunisia

Tunisian political parties and unions have criticized a security law draft, saying it could harm freedom of expression and other rights in Tunisia four years after an uprising that ushered in democracy.
Prime Minister Habib Essid last week sent parliament a new bill said to be aimed at protecting the police and armed forces. It follows an attack last month by Islamist militants on Tunisia's Bardo Museum in which 21 foreign tourists were killed.The draft law sets out five years in prison for insulting the morale of the security forces and two years for anyone who publishes information on operations. Publication of any security documents can lead to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
The journalists' union rejected the bill, describing it as hostile to freedom of expression.