Once again, two Tunisian rappers, Aladine Yacoubi, known as (Aka Weld EL 15) and his fellow colleague Ahmed Ben Ahmed known as (Aka Klay BBJ) were sentenced in absentia to 21 months in prison on September 2.

Once again, two Tunisian rappers, Aladine Yacoubi, known as (Aka Weld EL 15) and his fellow colleague Ahmed Ben Ahmed known as (Aka Klay BBJ) were sentenced in absentia to 21 months in prison on September 2.

“Police members arrested my client and his colleague while they were on stage performing a rap concert at a music festival in Hammamet, (60 kilometers away from Tunis),” said Ghazi Mrabet, the lawyer of the accused rappers. The police stormed the theatre and arrested the two rappers and allegedly physically assaulted them inside the police station for “targeting and insulting the police and the security institution.”

The Hammamet district court accused Aka Weld EL 15 and his fellow colleague Aka Klay BBJ of “insulting a civil servant and undermining public decency.” This is the same charge used against Aka Weld El 15 this past April but his lawyer was able to postpone his client’s six-month prison sentence.

Mrabet was shocked by the speedy issuance of the final verdict in absentia especially since the accused were not summoned by the court to appear at their trial. Mrabet learned about the verdict through the media and from social media networks. He then called the court to verify the accuracy of the circulated information. ”This is a clear violation of the law because it is not permissible to issue a verdict against any defendant without informing him on the day of the court hearing.”

“This jail verdict is a proof that freedoms of expression and creativity in Tunisia are still suppressed and that the judiciary is still being used to take revenge against government opponents,” Mrabet said.

Collective punishment

A few months ago, Weld El 15 performed a song called “Police Are Dogs” (Boulicia Kleb), in which he criticized all security personnel, who then demanded Weld El 15’s trial. They also demanded measures capable of confronting all artists who criticize the performance and behaviors of the police. The National Union of Internal Security Forces decided not to provide security arrangements for all rappers’ concerts during the summer festivals and this was considered by the Professional Artists Union as ”collective punishment.”

This decision sparked controversy among intellectuals and artists, especially after the boycott of the concert of Muhammad Ali al-Nahdi, a comedian, in Sbeitla because he criticized the performance and behaviours of the security forces. His colleague, Lutfi al-Abdali, was prosecuted for the same reasons.

On July 24, police officers refused to provide security for rap artist Bandirman’s concert in the southern city of Gabes and confronted 20 of their colleagues who tried to rebel against the decision.

Bandirman reported that he would abstain from paying taxes and water and electricity bills until the police performed its duty towards the people who attend festivals. In a statement to ”Correspondents,” Bandirman explained that ”the salaries of the interior ministry’s employees are paid from tax money collected from the citizens. It is the duty of the police and the security forces to protect all spaces and the lives of all people.”

“This collective punishment falls within the repressive measures that were pursued by the former president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.” He recalled how the police, in a concert held in the northern city of Bizerte, sought to cut off the power supply to force him to leave the theatre.

Badirman’s solidarity with Weld El 15 made him enter into a vicious circle of conflict with the security apparatus. His name was added to the list of undignified artists by the internal security union’s members. ”I am not a rapper and my solidarity with Weld El 15 was motivated by my strong support of freedom of expression,” he said. ”I do not agree with what he said in his song against the police. However, it is not right to imprison an artist who did not carry arms but only expressed his views using music and words.”

“The case of Weld El 15 came at a time when all the people were hoping to see a real reconciliation between the security apparatus and the people.  Unfortunately, what has happened is the opposite,” said Nasser Redaisi, a poet. “The police apparatus returned to its old harassment behaviour not only against artists, but also against intellectuals and journalists who have refused to enter the house of obedience and to praise the government performance.”

Logical reaction by police

The National Union of Internal Security Forces is insisting on obliging its members to implement the decision. Shukri Hamada, the official spokesman of the union, said that this is a logical reaction to the repeated insults made by rappers against the police and the security forces in their songs.  ”These insults have had their impact on the morals of the security forces and on their self-esteem,” he said. 

“We are still holding to our position and will not discard our decision of not providing security to rap concerts. The aim of this decision is to defend the sanctity and dignity of the security institution and its members.”

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that security unions have crossed their limits and their powers. He considered that the refusal of providing security to rap concerts without obtaining an official decision from the National Security General Directorate means that the unions refuse to abide by the instructions, which constitutes soldiers’ rebellion against their leaders. ”It’s time for the public inspection to enforce the law against those who do not respect the instructions, especially since the unions’ decisions are no longer unanimously taken and there is no consensus among all security members on these decisions. They have become a threat to the country’s security and to the safety of its citizens.”

Ghanem Ftirich, a lawyer, said that “the security unions do not have the right to prevent their members from performing their duty or providing security and ensuring the safety of citizens who attend a concert or any other activity. This is their duty and the core of their work, given that the country is living under conditions of the emergency law.”

He believes the decision not to provide security for all rap concerts is an unjust one. “There is no excuse which justifies this collective punishment, which has affected artists who have nothing to do with the hostilities between the security men and some of the artists, Bandirman is one example.”

”It is the duty of the police to ensure the safety of citizens who attend these concerts.  Security forces can prosecute people who attack them regardless whether they are artists or not. The judiciary is the authority responsible for settling such issues. said that   

Security and judicial prosecution did not only target rappers but also the rap fans. In August 24, the police arrested 21 year-old Anwar al-Hafez in the Bardo Yard because he was listening to the famous Weld El 15 ”Police Are Dogs” song in his car. Huda Basha, his lawyer, said that security started beating his clients, took them to the police station, allegedly fabricated an assault on civil servants charges against them, and made “immoral gestures.”  After some time, al-Hafez’s friend was released but al-Hafez stayed in custody. The court sentenced Anwar to three months imprisonment and ordered the postponement of sentencing.

Human Rights Watch condemned the arrest and conviction of Tunisian rappers Weld El- 15 and Klay BBJ and considered it as a plain violation of the freedom of expression. The organization stressed that condemning artists, journalists and bloggers to prison for their critical works is not worthy of the new Tunisia. It also renewed its demand to the Tunisian authorities to abandon laws inherited from the repressive era instead of using them in silencing critical voices.

The Ministry of Culture announced that it is against the imprisonment of artists because of their songs, but this announcement came after its failure, in more than one occasion, to reach reconciliation between security forces and some of the artists.