Marzouki: Arabs must reform security or face revolution

Internal security forces should work in compliance with law, human rights and liberty, says Tunisia's president

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki urged Arabs to rehabilitate their security institutions, insisting on the necessity of "radical, swift and real reforms" as he opened the 29th Arab Interior Ministers' council in Hammamet, Tunisia on Wednesday.
Marzouki warned against the current role of security institutions in the Arab world, saying that the only other alternative to reform is more revolutions, reported the Tunisian News Agency (TAP).
"The region's countries … face two alternatives: carrying swift and profound reforms or revolution will break out with all its consequences," TAP quoted Marzouki.
He called for changing the role of internal security in Arab states from being the political police to maintaining security and stability in compliance with law, human rights and liberty.
Repression by security apparatuses is one of the main reasons uprisings erupted in the face of dictators in Tunisia, Egypt and other Arab countries currently experiencing mass protests.
Tunisia is credited with being the first post-uprising state to elect a constituent assembly which in turn appointed an interim president.
Marzouki was jailed under ousted Tunisian president Ben Ali in 1994, being released later to live in exile for most of Ben Ali's rein.
He is a doctor, human rights activist and head of the Congress for the Republic party, the major party in the constituent assembly following the Islamist Ennahda.