Tunisia's victims of dictatorship abuse testify live on television

Victims of rape and torture under Tunisia’ successive dictatorships started testifying on live television on Thursday.

It is a rare move for Tunisia as it tries to deal with decades of abuse.

The Truth and Dignity Commission tracked human rights violations committed between July 1955 and December 2013 when the fact-finding body was established.

Several people who survived abuses under successive authoritarian regimes are appearing on national television to tell their stories before the commission.

SOT “My brother went out to demonstrate like all those who were protesting against the authoritarian regime, they shot him in the heart and he died instantly, his soul rest in peace.”

The complaints which the commission received include torture, arbitrary detentions, physical abuse and violations of freedom of speech.

Women make up a quarter of victims who came forward, complaining of sexual abuse.

The Truth and Dignity Commission which is examining 62,000 cases seeks to rehabilitate and compensate victims.

AFP