Picture of girl in custody in Tunisia sparks outrage

Picture of girl in custody in Tunisia sparks outrage
A picture of a young child held in custody alongside adults has angered many in Tunisia.
1 min read
12 November, 2020
The picture of the young girl angered many in Tunisia [Facebook]
An image of a young girl in Tunisia, who appeared to have been detained by immigration officers alongside adults, has sparked widespread outrage in the country, The New Arab's Arabic-language service reported.

The image of the girl, who is said to be around four-years-old, has raised concerns about the rights of children in Tunisia.

Child protection representative Kamal Abdel-Allawi told The New Arab that the photo was taken after Tunisian security forces foiled an attempted border crossing, and is believed to have been taken at a security centre in the Meknine region of Monastir Governorate.

Abdel-Allawi said seven people were arrested and the operation's organiser, who is also the child's father, remains in custody.

Abdel-Allawi said that the NGO Childhood Protection Mission soon raised the alarm about the four-year-old girl, her six-year-old brother, and another 17-year-old child, at the detention centre.

The mother of the two younger children can also be seen in the picture, he said.
The child protection representative said that the mother was intending to emigrate with her children and her husband.

The children were apparently photographed alongside the adult detainees because they refused to leave their mother.

The case is now with the Public Prosecution, Abdel-Allawi added.

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