Tunisia Blogger Says Police Framed Him in Drug Trial

A blogger active during Tunisia's 2011 uprising accused police in court on Friday of fabricating cannabis charges against him because of his role in the revolt.

Azyz Amami and a friend, Sabri Ben Mlouka, arrested on May 12, are on trial for "possession and consumption of drugs," a charge which could see them jailed for up to five years. 

"I did had no narcotic substance in my possession, I had nothing at all. I have been arrested and attacked" by the police, he told a judge at the court in Tunis.

The judge asked Amami if he was accusing the police of planting the drugs on him, to which he responded: "Yes, sir."

He also refused to take a drugs test, saying it would "undermine his integrity."

Amami was active during the 2011 uprising against president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and arrested along with  hundreds of other anti-regime protesters.

He often accused police of abuses in his blog.

The defendant said he was arrested and beaten by police in September 2011 for posting a joke deemed insulting to the security forces.

Defense lawyer Bassem Trifi said Amami had refused the drugs test because he did not trust police not to tamper with the results.

Dozens of supporters of the blogger demonstrated outside the courthouse.

"Azyz is a hostage of a judicial and security system... Azyz is an enemy of the police, and they attacked him," said the blogger's father, Khaled Amami.