August 27 marked a decisive turning point in the Tunisian government’s relationship with the Salafists. Indeed Ansara al-Shari‘a in Tunisia (AST), the most important Salafi group in Tunisia, was officially designated as a terrorist organization. Why this abrupt acceleration toward the systematic repression of the movement has occurred? What does it mean this government’s and, above all, Ennahda’s move?
Human Rights Watch / Tunisia: Rappers sentenced to prison for artwork, writing, lyrics deemed ‘insulting’
Tunisia: Rappers Sentenced to Prison String of Prosecutions for Artwork, Writing, Lyrics Deemed ‘Insulting’ (Tunis, September 5, 2013) – A […]
Authorities urged to drop all charges against detained TV cameraman
Reporters Without Borders, the Tunis Centre for Press Freedom, the National Union of Journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists and […]
Tunisia: Investigate Alleged Abuse in Prison – Two Detainees Report Beatings, Torture
Human Rights Watch – (Tunis, August 29, 2013) – Tunisian authorities should open prompt and thorough investigations into allegations of […]
Post-Brahmi-Assassination Crisis: a Political, Geopolitical, or Apolitical Solution
From July 25th onwards, socio-political forces have been seeking to transform Tunisia from a post-revolutionary to a “re-revolutionary” country. Complications have risen as “terrorist operations” seem to multiply, not by coincidence. It would be presumptuous to force a final analysis on the situation, since a lot of details remain mysterious; however, let us try to look at the “story” from different angles and perspectives.
Amnesty International /Egypt: Evidence points to torture carried out by Morsi supporters
Evidence, including testimonies from survivors, indicates that supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi tortured individuals from a rival political camp, […]
Portrait of Mohamed Brahmi
“I entered politics as a man and I will leave it as a man.” These were some of the last words Mohamed Brahmi stated to one of his friends most loyal to the People’s Movement, several days before his death on 25 July 2013 in Tunis. Mohamed Brahmi was one who believed in true political engagement, the kind that requires a lifetime investment on the ground.
Amnesty international: Tunisia, Release FEMEN activist held on politically motivated charges
PRESS RELEASE 29 July 2013 Today’s decision by a Tunisian court to dismiss a defamation case against the 18-year-old FEMEN […]
Tunisia: Protesters Describe Teargas Attacks, Beatings
Tunisia: Protesters Describe Teargas Attacks, Beatings Protect the Right to Peaceful Protest (Tunis, July 29, 2013) – The police violence […]
LiveBlogging : Assassination of Mohamed Brahmi, founder of Attayar Achaabi
Last updated: Monday July 29th, 2013 @ 6:30am Tunis – Mohamed Brahmi, a deputy who resigned from the “Echaab” party to found “Attayar Echaabi” was assassinated today morning while he was leaving his home. The deputy, originating from Sidi Bouzid, was shot dead by 5 bullets. Following is a LiveBlogging of the last four days.
Post-Revolution Culture: Pluralism or Bipolarism?
A post-revolutionary context is supposed to be one of “pluralism” where different political, intellectual, and social tendencies co-exist and compete at the same time. However, in Tunisia, we seem to confuse “pluralism” with “bipolarism”.
An Intellectual Revolution from a Reactionary Elite?
More than two years after the “revolution”, this very elite is still lagging behind; complaining about the absence of an “intellectual revolution” while no revolution whatsoever has yet occurred in our intellectuals’ minds.
The Right to Information and the Environment in the Middle East
By David Banisar – Oil spills. Air pollution. Toxins in ground and sea water. Desertification. The environmental situation in countries across the Middle East is perilous and getting worse. According to the UN in the 2010 Environment Outlook for the Arab Region report, the region is “facing critical environmental issues” as well as new threats and natural hazards.
What the Tunisian Government Should Learn from Egypt
The deposition of former Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi: call it what you like – a popular uprising, a military coup, a continuation of the “Arab Spring”, or a hammer blow to democratic reform efforts. Whatever it was, Tunisia is certainly not immune to it.
Amnesty International: Freedom of expression on trial in Tunisia
PRESS RELEASE 2 July 2013 The trials this week of four Tunisians in different court cases for expressing opinions critical […]
The Popular Front and the Union for Tunisia: the Tunisian Left’s Reactionary Conversion
A would-be political alliance between the Popular Front and the Union for Tunisia is looming ahead, emblematized in a significantly-symbolic “encounter” between representatives of each party. The Popular Front, uniting the elusive Left, and the Union for Tunisia, monopolized by a dubious party whose conservative tendencies are economically obvious
Note on Freedom of Expression provisions in Latest Draft of Tunisian Constitution
The Centre for Law and Democracy is today releasing a Note analysing the freedom of expression provisions in the new […]
Freedom Online Coalition: A Call To Governments From Civil Society
This is a call to governments from civil society. this call was presented during the closing ceremony of the Freedom Online Conference that took place in Tunis between June 17-18, 2013. This call captures the “Sense of the room” at the Justice Tent that was organized at Nawaat on june 17th, 2013.