The Tunisian Association for the Defense of Individual Freedoms
Organise une table ronde sur:« Ces circulaires liberticides qui nous gouvernent » « المناشير السالبة للحرية » Le vendredi 9 mars 2017 Hôtel Majestic Tunis
Argument :
Tunisia has adopted a new constitution, article 49 of which states: "Without prejudicing their substance, the law establishes the restrictions relating to the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and to their exercise.". Yet rights and freedoms are often restricted by other provisions. Circulars are one of those provisions which continue to be a basis for limitations on rights and freedoms today.
Rappelons, qu’une circulaire est un document écrit adressé par une autorité administrative (ministre ou chef d’administration) à ses subordonnés afin de les informer de l’interprétation à adopter d’une législation ou d’une réglementation particulière (loi, décret, arrêté) et de la manière de son application. Elle est, en principe, une règle explicative qui ne doit pas contenir des dispositions normatives nouvelles et c’est pour cette raisonqu’elle se trouve en bas de l’échelle des règles juridiques auxquelles elle doit être conforme (même à ce niveau, il y a débat : une large doctrine ne la considère même pas une source de Droit).
In practice, the situation seems to be reversed. The management of daily life is largely permeated by the scope and impact of the circulars which are, for the most part, contrary to the standards which are superior to them (constitution, ratified agreements, laws, etc.). They generally date back to relatively ancient times and are not published. One example is the circular of July 1981 relating to the closing of Establishments (cafes, restaurants) during the fasting period in the month of Ramadan. This circular is still applied in a country whose constitution, which entered into force in 2014, enshrines the civil nature of the state (article 2) and guarantees freedom of belief and conscience (article 6). Likewise, a circular, which prohibits Tunisians under 35 from leaving the Tunisian territory unless they bear witness to an authorization duly signed by their legal guardian, still exists while the constitution guarantees freedom of movement and exit from the country. (article 24) and that the law on civil status has set the legal majority at 18 years, circulars which limit the choice of children's first names by their parents, circulars which hinder freedom of conscience, which regulate clothing, which reduce the right of access to information, health, education….
Through its activity, the Tunisian Association for the Defense of Individual Freedoms (ADLI) has always denounced, through the research work it has carried out, the danger that these circulars represent on the state of individual freedoms in Tunisia and called on the authorities to repeal them. The association has also started, through its publication, published in 2017, "the unconstitutionality sheets" to carry out technical work with a view to eliminating the liberticidal legal rules of the Tunisian legal corpus and this, by drafting examples of appeals against contrary laws. to the constitution, before the constitutional court.
Date and place of the round table: This round table will take place on March 9, 2018 at the Hotel Majestic, avenue deParis Tunis from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.
