A steak dubbed the “Grilled Freedom” is just one stand-out dish on the menu of the Tunisian capital’s “Le Dictateur” restaurant, which is not exactly to the taste of officialdom. Six years after the North African country’s revolution that sparked the Arab Spring, “Le Dictateur” vies for the foodie business in the upmarket Cite Ennasr … Read more
The Arab Spring brought a taste of liberty for north Africa’s gay and transgender communities, but six years on their battle for rights and recognition continues, activists say. In Madrid for WorldPride 2017, one of the globe’s biggest celebrations of LGBT rights, activists from the Muslim world called for greater freedom or the de-penalisation of … Read more
Authorities in Tunisia on Wednesday announced they have frozen the assets of football club magnate and former presidential hopeful Slim Riahi on suspicions of money laundering. An investigating judge imposed the restriction on all of Riahi’s shares on the stock market, bank accounts and property, said prosecution spokesman Sofiene Sliti. The announcement comes after the … Read more
Tunisia has extended for another four months a state of emergency in place since a 2015 jihadist attack, the president’s office announced on Wednesday. “President Beji Caid Essebsi decided on Wednesday to extend the state of emergency for four months starting from Thursday, June 15,” his office said on Facebook. The state of emergency has … Read more
Tunisia has extended for another four months a state of emergency in place since a 2015 jihadist attack, the president’s office announced on Wednesday. “President Beji Caid Essebsi decided on Wednesday to extend the state of emergency for four months starting from Thursday, June 15,” his office said on Facebook. The state of emergency has … Read more
Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed was reported on Sunday as saying no one in the North African country involved in corruption would emerge unscathed in his government’s “war” on graft. Corruption was widespread in Tunisia under longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in the 2011 uprising that spawned the Arab Spring, … Read more
Tunisian authorities on Friday froze the assets of eight businessmen suspected of corruption, including some already under house arrest. Graft was widespread under longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in a 2011 uprising, and has remained endemic ever since. The eight men allegedly profited from their ties to Ben Ali and … Read more
Tunisia declared a “war on corruption” on Wednesday after the arrest of three businessmen and a customs officer on suspicion of graft and financing protests in the North African country. Corruption was widespread under longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in a 2011 uprising, and has remained endemic since. “In the … Read more
Tunisian officials warned Tuesday that tensions in the country’s south could escalate following a protester’s death after clashes with security forces at an oil and gas plant. The young demonstrator died of wounds sustained Monday when he was “accidentally” run over by a national guard vehicle outside the El Kamour pumping station, the health and … Read more
A young protester was killed Monday after a national guard vehicle “accidentally” ran him over in south Tunisia, raising fears of more social unrest in a region already rocked by weeks of protest. The death comes as tensions have risen between protesters and security forces outside the El Kamour oil and gas pumping station. Protesters … Read more
A young protester was killed Monday after a national guard vehicle “accidentally” ran him over in south Tunisia, raising fears of mounting social unrest in a region rocked by weeks of protest. The death comes as tensions have risen between protesters and security forces outside the El Kamour oil and gas pumping station. Protesters have … Read more
Tunisia plans to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the island of Djerba, site of Africa’s oldest synagogue and an annual Jewish pilgrimage, its culture minister said on Sunday. Speaking on the last day of the pilgrimage to the Ghriba synagogue, Mohamed Zine El-Abidine said the island was important for its “cultural and religious uniqueness”. … Read more
More than 2,000 Tunisians protested Saturday in the capital against a bill that would allow officials being prosecuted for alleged corruption to be amnestied in exchange for reimbursing embezzled funds. “Corruption will not pass!” shouted demonstrators including prominent politicians in central Tunis, after a call to protest from more that 50 non-government organisations and a … Read more
A Tunis court has sentenced Ridha Grira, the last defence minister under ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, to six years in jail for corruption, the judiciary said Friday. Spokesman Sofiene Sliti told AFP that the verdict against the 61-year-old “fugitive” was issued late Thursday by a court which also ordered him to pay … Read more
Tunisia’s election chief Chafik Sarsar has resigned just months before the country is due to hold its first post-revolution municipal elections, public television reported on Tuesday. AFP was unable to immediately reach Sarsar. An employee of the electoral commission refused to comment. Sarsar and the commission were praised for their organisation of legislative and presidential … Read more
Tunisian and international non-governmental organisations warned Tuesday of deteriorating freedom of the press in a country considered to be a rare success story of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. “The Tunisian government these past weeks has not stopped tightening its grip on the press,” they said in a joint statement published on World Press Freedom … Read more
Tunisia said Saturday it had replaced two senior officials in a southeastern region, days after protesters there booed the prime minister off stage following weeks of demonstrations. Tunisia has faced a wave of protests and strikes over joblessness, corruption and perceived marginalisation, six years since a revolution ignited by similar grievances. Prime Minister Youssef Chahed … Read more
Dimming the lights on their patrol boat, Tunisian coastguards stand in silence scanning the sea for speedboats on clandestine missions to and from Italy. Smuggling gangs are using high-performance vessels to ferry people, drugs and cigarettes across the Strait of Sicily, a distance of just 95 miles (150 kilometres). Commander Mohamed Naceur Saadani says their … Read more
Tunisia’s parliament voted on Tuesday to ease the country’s harsh law on drugs, in a move that could see offenders like youths caught smoking marijuana escape jail terms. The North African country has faced mounting calls from rights groups and civil society to reform the law. Tuesday’s vote comes after the National Security Council headed … Read more
The Tunisian branch of the radical Islamist Hizb ut-Tahrir movement, which calls for Islamic law and wants to unify Muslims into a caliphate, said Saturday it was time to “bury” democracy. “Democracy no longer attracts anyone,” the movement’s politburo chief Abderraouf Amri told its annual conference. “It is time to announce its death and work … Read more