Moncef Marzouki
Encyclopedia
Moncef Marzouki is a Tunisia
n human rights
activist, politician
and physician
.
(Tunisia), Marzouki studied medicine at the University of Strasbourg
(France). Returning to Tunisia in 1979, he founded the Center for Community Medicine in Sousse
and the African Network for Prevention of Child Abuse, also joining Tunisian League for Human Rights. In his youth he had travelled to India to study Mahatma Gandhi
's peaceful resistance. Later, he also travelled to South Africa to study its transition from Apartheid.
calling on him to adhere to the law. In 1993, Marzouki was a founding member of the National Committee for the Defense of Prisoners of Conscience, but he resigned after it was taken over by supporters of the government. He was arrested on several occasions on charges relating to the propagation of false news and working with banned Islamist groups. He subsequently founded the National Committee for Liberties. He became President of the Arab Commission for Human Rights
and continues as a member of its Executive Board.
In 2001, he founded the Congress for the Republic
. This was banned in 2002, but Marzouki moved to France and continued running it.
Following President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
's departure from Tunisia and vacation of the Presidency during the 2010–2011 Tunisian protests, Marzouki announced his return to Tunisia and his intention to run for the presidency.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
.
Education and early human rights activities
Born in GrombaliaGrombalia
Grombalia is a Tunisian city located in the Nabeul Governorate.Its population is 18,856 ....
(Tunisia), Marzouki studied medicine at the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
(France). Returning to Tunisia in 1979, he founded the Center for Community Medicine in Sousse
Sousse
Sousse is a city in Tunisia. Located 140 km south of the capital Tunis, the city has 173,047 inhabitants . Sousse is in the central-east of the country, on the Gulf of Hammamet, which is a part of the Mediterranean Sea. The name may be of Berber origin: similar names are found in Libya and in...
and the African Network for Prevention of Child Abuse, also joining Tunisian League for Human Rights. In his youth he had travelled to India to study Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
's peaceful resistance. Later, he also travelled to South Africa to study its transition from Apartheid.
Human rights/political career
When the government cracked down violently on the Islamist Ennahda Movement in 1991, Marzouki confronted Tunisian President Ben AliZine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was...
calling on him to adhere to the law. In 1993, Marzouki was a founding member of the National Committee for the Defense of Prisoners of Conscience, but he resigned after it was taken over by supporters of the government. He was arrested on several occasions on charges relating to the propagation of false news and working with banned Islamist groups. He subsequently founded the National Committee for Liberties. He became President of the Arab Commission for Human Rights
Arab Commission for Human Rights
The Arab Commission for Human Rights is an Arab world non-governmental human rights organisation that was founded in 1998.-Founding:The Arab Commission for Human Rights is a human rights non-governmental organisation founded on 17 January 1998 by 15 human rights activists from around the Arab...
and continues as a member of its Executive Board.
In 2001, he founded the Congress for the Republic
Congress for the Republic
The Congress for the Republic , also referred to as Al Mottamar or by its French acronym CPR, is a centre-left secular political party in Tunisia. It was created in 2001, but legalised only after the 2011 Tunisian revolution...
. This was banned in 2002, but Marzouki moved to France and continued running it.
Following President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was...
's departure from Tunisia and vacation of the Presidency during the 2010–2011 Tunisian protests, Marzouki announced his return to Tunisia and his intention to run for the presidency.