Nationality: Noun and adjective–Tunisian(s).
Population (2010): 10,486,339.
Annual population growth rate (2008): 1.2%. Birth rate–17.7 births/1,000 population. Death rate–5.8 deaths/1,000 population.
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 98%, European 1%, other 1%.
Religions: Muslim 99%, Christian less than 1%, Jewish less than 1%.
Languages: Arabic (official), French.
Education: Years compulsory–9. Literacy (definition–age 15 and over can read and write, 2007 est.)–74.3%.
Health (2010): Infant mortality rate–22.57 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy–75.78 total, 73.98 years male, 77.7 years female.
Work force (2009): 3.689 million.
Unemployment rate (2009): 13.3%.
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
The Tunisian government or its agents did not commit any politically motivated killings; however, security forces killed demonstrators during the year.
On May 6, according to domestic NGOs, protestor Hichem Alaimi was fatally electrocuted at a power station in Redeyef when local officials proceeded to restore power to the station, although Alaimi and others refused to let go of the cables after alleged warnings by officials that power would be restored. Protestors had temporarily shut down the generator during a sit-in protesting unemployment. Two other protestors were non-fatally electrocuted.
On June 6, security forces shot and killed Hafnaoui Al-Maghzaoui during an unemployment protest in Redeyef. Security forces also shot Abdelkhalak Amaidi, who died on September 13 due to complications resulting from the wound.Tunisia Government officials claimed that protestors threw Molotov cocktails at security forces, prompting them to open fire; however, local civil society leaders maintained that the protest was peaceful and that security forces began firing without warning. At year’s end there was an investigation into the circumstances of the shootings, but no charges had been filed.
There were no developments in the 2006 case of Tarek Ayari, allegedly killed by Bechir Rahali, a Tunis police chief, who hit the victim on the head with the handle of a pickaxe.