شهادة جيلبار نقاش - جلسة الاستماع العلنية 17 نوفمبر 2016

Name and surname: NACCACHE Joseph, Gilbert Born: January 15, 1939 in Tunis Son of Maurice and Emma Zuili Primary and secondary education at the Lycée Carnot in Tunis from 1944 to 1956 Higher education in Paris from 1956 to 1962 (Preparatory classes, then the National Agronomic Institute) Degrees: Baccalaureate in Elementary Mathematics, 1956 Agronomy Engineering Degree, 1962 Professional activity: Senior Engineer in the Department of Agricultural, Plant and Animal Production (1962-63), then in the Department of Hydraulics and Rural Equipment (1963-64), then at the Integrated Rural Planning Project for Central Tunisia (1964-67) and finally at the Northern UCP Control Office (March-October 1967) Undersecretary of State for Agriculture. Transferred at his request to the CERES (Center for Research and Higher Education) at the University of Tunis, without his administrative status being regularized: worked at CERES until March 1968, but remained administratively dependent on the Ministry of Agriculture, which ceased paying his salary in October 1967. Trade union activities with the agricultural technicians' union. Clandestine political activities within the Socialist Study and Action Group (Perspectives). Arrested on March 22, 1968, by the Criminal Investigation Brigade. Tortured from March 22 to 24 (several hours a day) in a small room at the Ministry of the Interior; method of torture: blows with various instruments (batons, bullwhips, lead-lined rubber hoses, etc.) on the soles of his feet while he was in the "roast chicken" position, suspended by an iron bar between two tables. From time to time, the beatings are stopped, cold water is poured on his feet, and he is made to walk. Then the beatings resume, accompanied by threats and insults… On the third day, an electric shock is applied twice to his skin, primarily intended to frighten him. Interrogation The interrogations end, he is sent back to the Tunis Civil Prison and brought before the investigating judge of the 5th Chamber of the Tunis Criminal Court. The charges against him (6 or 7) are read. The judge records his protest against the torture he has endured. Early July 1968: The State Security Court is established; he is summoned by the same judge, but this time as the investigating judge of the new court. The interrogation is purely a formality, and he signs copies of his previous statements. September 16-22, 1968: Trial at the State Security Court, sentenced to 16 years in prison, pending appeal to the Court of Cassation; the verdict rejecting the appeal was delivered on September 28. September 28, 1969: Transferred to Borj Roumi Penitentiary. Six months spent in extremely harsh conditions. Conditions improved in April 1969, after several hunger strikes: permission for a monthly family visit, a letter, and a monthly parcel of food and clothing; permission to purchase goods (cigarettes and canned goods) from the canteen. Pressure was exerted to obtain pardons. After September 1969, conditions improved, attempts were made to have a request for a new amnesty signed, followed by release in two groups in January and then on March 20, 1970. They were placed under house arrest first in Gafsa (April-October 1970), then in Bou Salem (October 1970-February 1972) without being provided with housing or resources. They were held in pretrial detention without interrogation from early February to mid-May 1972, then placed under house arrest in Ouerdanine until December 26. They were arrested again, this time by the DST (Directorate of Territorial Surveillance), and subjected to further torture (using the same methods) for two days. They were sentenced by the correctional court to one year in prison in March 1972, a sentence upheld on appeal in May. In June, they were returned to the DST and tortured for two days after prison guards intercepted messages between prisoners and the outside world. The interrogations yielded nothing, but the investigating judge indicted him without evidence, justifying his continued imprisonment after the one-year sentence was up. On April 14, 1973, following a student demonstration in Tunis, Bourguiba announced the withdrawal of the 1970 amnesty, meaning he had to serve another 14 years in prison. This entire procedure was illegal, but no appeals were successful, not even after 1987. He was released on parole on August 3, 1979. He would not regain his full rights until after the revolution.