Tunisian Women Protesting Against the Niqab

More than 200 Tunisian women dressed in the traditional outfits melya and sefsari gathered on October 8th in front of the cultural center of Menzah VI to protest against “backward and fanatic forces.”

The demonstrators also walked along Othmane Ben Affane Avenue brandishing slogans against the wearing of niqab and anything that they consider to be detrimental to the identity of Tunisian women. One slogan read “Do not touch my identity.” The protesters called for an end to intimidation campaigns directed towards women and a fight against religious fanaticism.

The demonstration took place following the refusal of the dean of the Faculty of Arts of Sousse to accept a young female student wearing niqab. Several social network pages called for the demonstration. The objective of the women’s demonstration is to rediscover moderation and tolerance towards Tunisian heritage. The march brought together a large number of women of all ages, as well as representatives of civil society.

Générations et Libertés, a non-profit organization that works for the preservation of human rights – especially of women rights in Tunisia – organized the event that was covered by Mosaique FM. Talking to the Tunisian radio, one of the protesters stated that the association tries to preserve the traditional outfits of sefsari and melya. They are decent outfits that best represent the Tunisian identity, unlike the alienating outfit of niqab which was imported from Afghanistan and is invading universities, she added. She stressed the recognition of someone’s identity through an ID card or by uncovering the face and calls upon the state to ban the niqab in educational institutions. A middle-aged woman defended her position of refusing the niqab on the basis that it is not connected to the Tunisian identity or Islam.

Two Ennahda supporters intervened during the demonstration; one young man called the action of the protesting women undemocratic, unacceptable and degrading and stated that their action is opposed to the ideal of secularism that they are defending. A youth meeting organized by Ennahda at the Cultural Center of Menzah 6 at 7 pm was scheduled to take place following the demonstration. One Ennahda supporter accused one of the protesters of having torn the Ennahda banner.

The demonstration was scheduled to start from different parts of Tunis but was rescheduled due to the weather conditions according to a protester Tunisia Live spoke to on the phone. Another event is scheduled Saturday, October 15th, 2011 entitled “Yes to Tunisian Identity, NO TO NIQHAB ? THE BURKHA” on Facebook in all Tunisian cities and coordinated by admin Aicha Skandrani.