The NGO Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) has expressed concern for a potential agreement between Tunisia and France to accelerate the expulsion process of Tunisian migrants in an irregular situation.
The spokesperson of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), Romdhane Ben Amor, has expressed concern over a potential agreement without notice between Tunisia and France to accelerate the process of expulsion of Tunisian migrants in an irregular situation.
Romdhane Ben Amor described it as a "flagrant violation of their rights," referring to a statement given to reporters last week by a French government spokesman who said Tunisia had started cooperating with France to accelerate expulsion procedures for irregular migrants in the country.
The government spokesman said Algeria and Morocco are still refusing to cooperate on this issue.
'A dangerous change of course'
At the end of September, Paris decided to harshen conditions to obtain entry visas for the citizens of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia -- countries that "refuse" to issue consular permits necessary for the return of immigrants rejected by France.
In a statement to Tunisian news agency Tap, Ben Amor on Wednesday (November 10) stressed that the acceleration of expulsion procedures will not allow irregular migrants to take legal steps to exercise their right to appeal against the expulsion order.
He said such unfair treatment violates the rights of undocumented migrants, adding that the cooperation between France and Tunisia in the field of irregular migration has recently registered a "dangerous change of course."
'France intends to expel over 3,400 Tunisian migrants', NGO says
"France has entered a new phase in the process of expulsion of Tunisian migrants in an irregular situation as it has ensured their air transport to the airport of Tabarka under quite rigorous security controls", Ben Amor observed.
"This fact is confirmed by a recent operation of forcible expulsion of some 40-50 irregular migrants dating back to five days ago," he added. He said that deportation by plane to the airport of Tabarka, under security surveillance, is aimed at implementing this process unbeknownst to the media and civil society.
The Forum's spokesman stated that "France intends to expel over 3,400 Tunisian migrants in an irregular situation," according to information obtained from a number of French official sources.He expressed dismay that "Tunisia continues to be silent on this issue and has not provided so far data or numbers to inform the public opinion on this theme."