Abstract

“This is an exceptional personal testimony and story of achievement – Ahmed Othmani tells of his own appalling treatment when in detention and how it informed and inspired a lifetime vocation to struggle for the rights of all prisoners everywhere. As the story demonstrates, Othmani is one of those rare individuals who moved from passion and conviction to effective action – he was responsible for the establishment of one of the world’s most reliable and mature human rights organizations, in the field of penal reform, Penal Reform International (PRI). His untimely death in Morocco in 2004 deprived the cause of a passionate advocate, but the work goes on.” [From the Preface]

Ahmed Othmani† (1947-2004) was a great figureof the human rights movement and one of the historical leaders of the left in Tunisia. Tunisia's leader Bourguiba imprisoned Othmani (1966-1980). This led him to establish Penal Reform International (PRI) whom he served until he was killed in a hit and run road accident in Morocco in December 2004.