Five young Tunisian hikers have just been sentenced to 15 days in prison for walking in Jebel Boukornine. They were charged with entering an isolated military area without authorization.
Is Jebel Boukornine really an isolated military zone? To get an official answer to that question, Highlights contacted the Department of National Defense. Our interlocutor (who did not show up) assured us that Jebel Boukornine was not an isolated military zone. We then asked him why these young people were sentenced for accessing an isolated military zone when this was not the case. He answered: "I do not know, but you need permission to access Jebel Boukornine. ". However, many hikers have previously accessed the area without permission and without having any problems. Highlights asked the Department of Defense employee why things have changed. He told us "Maybe before, the authorities did not see them hike there and they went unnoticed." So for the gentleman from the Ministry of Defense, everything is a matter of luck, if we see you, you are imprisoned, otherwise, you are lucky ?! It should be noted that the famous walk to Jebel Boukornine took place in November 2016. Arrested by the authorities, the five hikers signed an agreement. In this month of November 2017, one year later, they receive a judgment in absentia of conviction in prison. This was a real surprise because they were not called to court. There, they will have to spend 15 whole days behind bars unjustly. They are accused of having entered an isolated military zone when it is false. Note that the state leads hard life to hikers and campers. They have forbidden them to access several places including the Bouhedma reserve in Sidi Bouzid and Jebel Sarj in Siliana without giving them a valid reason. Young people were forbidden to practice a healthy activity and enjoy the beauty of their country. The community of hikers and campers in Tunisia who is growing day by day then launched the campaign Sayabni Netnaffess (Let me breathe) to call the state and specifically the Ministries of Agriculture and Defense to facilitate Obtaining authorizations to access natural areas of the country and no longer create barriers to the desire to discover and promote eco-tourism in Tunisia. To get an official answer to that question, we contacted the Department of National Defense. Our interlocutor (who did not show up) assured us that Jebel Boukornine was not an isolated military zone. We then asked him why these young people were sentenced for accessing an isolated military zone when this was not the case.Is Jebel Boukornine really an isolated military zone? To get an official answer to that question, we contacted the Department of National Defense. Our interlocutor (who did not show up) assured us that Jebel Boukornine was not an isolated military zone. We then asked him why these young people were sentenced for accessing an isolated military zone when this was not the case. *highlights.com.tn |
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