Ref: 50/2011

Upon an invitation by the President of the
Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH), lawyer Raji Sourani. Director of the
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and President of the Board of
Trustees of Arab Organization for human Rights’ (AOHR), participated in the
proceedings of LTDH’s Sixth Conference in Tunis between 09 and 11 September
2011.

This Conference was held regarding the current
situation in Tunisia after the success of the Tunisian revolution. LTDH members were prominent elements of this
revolution. Premier of the Interim Tunisian
Government, Al-Baji Qaed Al –Sabsi, all
Tunisian ministers; ambassadors, diplomats and heads of the Arab and
international human rights movement attended the event.

During the Conference, Sourani delivered a
speech in the name of the Arab human rights movement. In his speech, Sourani praised the Tunisian
people and the Tunisian active movements which managed to defeat one of the preeminent
corrupt dictators in the Arab world and it triggered the revolution not only in
Tunisia, but also in the whole Arab world, from Egypt through Libya and Yemen,
to Syria and Bahrain.

Sourani stressed that the Arabs from the
Atlantic Ocean to the Arab Gulf have the same concerns and that the Arab
struggle has a single goal which is achieving dignity, freedom, democracy, rule
of law and human rights for all Arabs. He also stressed that the Tunisian revolution will remain inspiring and an
example to the civilization of Arabs and Muslims who initiated a peaceful
civilized revolution through which the revolutionary Arab people proved their
humanitarian and moral superiority over dictators. This revolution has presented a model for the
whole world to adopt.

On the other hand, during his presence in the
Tunisian Capital, Sourani held a meeting that lasted for an hour and a half
with Tunisian Foreign Minister, Mouldi Kefi. Sourani congratulated Mouldi Kefi
for the success of the Tunisian revolution that represented a victory for all
free people in the Arab world and throughout the entire world. The meeting addressed a number of issues,
especially the Palestinian effort to seek recognition of statehood at the
United Nations. Sourani explained PCHR’s
reservations in this regard, especially with regard to Palestinian refugees’
rights and their representation.

The meeting also addressed the Goldstone report
and its discussion in the UN General Assembly. Sourani stressed that it is important to support this Report both at the
Palestinian and Arab levels as it supports and complements the declaration of
the State. Additionally, the meeting
addressed the discussion of the notorious Palmer Report which admitted the
legitimacy of the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip by Israel. Sourani called upon Tunisia and the other
Arab States to join Turkey to bring this issue before the International Court
of Justice. Sourani noted that all the
international human rights organizations consider the ongoing closure as
illegal. The closure is illegal,
inhumane, humiliating, degrading and must be lifted immediately and completely,
not partially. The Tunisian Foreign
Minister promised to support Sourani’s call and stressed that the unity of the
Palestinian people is the goal sought by the free people for the Palestinian
people and factions.

Sourani has already facilitated a conference
held in Tunisia about the situation in Syria and the challenges facing the
Palestinian cause, especially referring to the UN to seek recognition of a
Palestinian state, discussion of the Goldstone Report at the UN General
Assembly and the Palestinian reconciliation. Suhayr Belhassn, President of the International Federation for Human
Rights, and Dr. Radwan Ziad, Director of Damascus Center for Human Rights
Studies, participated in the conference. During this activity, Sourani met with a number of heads of several Arab
and international human rights organizations attending the conference.