The campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticised Tunisia controversial anti-drug law that criminalises any form of drug consumption and possession.

In a new report, the US-based group described the law, introduced under the deposed President Zine Al-Abedine Ben Ali in the 1990s, as "repressive" and called for its reform.

"The enforcement of this anti-drug law is often abused by the police and transforms the lives of young people who later stigmatised by a criminal record," HRW Tunisia director Amna Guellali told me.

Most of those imprisoned under this law are often cannabis users and under law 52, first-time offenders are immediately jailed for at least one year and fined up to $700 (£500).

Attempts by the government last year to amend it have stalled at the parliament.