Reactions of Panic and Fear Contrast with Apathy of Some Locals After Night of Clashes

While the streets of La Marsa, Sidi Bou Said, and Carthage are cleaned after last night’s clashes between protesters and police, Tunisians are forced to contemplate what this means for the future of their country.

As Tunisia works to rebuild its identity after throwing off years of dictatorship, tensions have arisen between conservative religious groups who wish to see a Tunisia governed by Islamic values, and others who promote a secular government. With the recent outcry over what some considered morally offensive art and the subsequent clashes Sunday and Monday evenings, Tunisians are forced to bear witness to post-revolutionary instability wrought by differences in values and beliefs.

Since Sunday, the confrontation between artists and religious groups dominate the conversation on the streets and cafés of Tunisia. Tunisia Live took to the streets to gather the public’s reaction.

Reactions to the events of the last few days varied. For some, the most recent clashes are indicative of the divisions plaguing Tunisian society, and a symbol of possible instability and chaos. Others, however, have become immune to these skirmishes, and accept the currently chaotic political reality as an obligatory passage in the transition from dictatorship to democracy.

Eya Belhaj, a student living in La Marsa, expressed panic concerning the incidents. According to Belhaj, half of La Marsa closed early due to the violence. Belhaj said residents were afraid to leave their homes, and claimed she nearly suffocated from the tear gas.

Mohamed, a farmer near the province of Zaghouan who was visiting La Marsa, fears that the Islamic movement in Tunisia will continue to gain traction. He stresses that Tunisia is tolerant, but is unwilling to condone violence and the disruption to the political transition.

“Our philosophy is that the Tunisian people like peace,” he explains. His biggest concern was the ramifications on a large sector of the Tunisian economy: tourism. “The atmosphere right now is no good. This happens right near the beginning of the tourist season, and events like these are bad for us.”

Mohamed is worried about the future, and what these social divisions mean for Tunisia’s development. He was, “not surprised by the reactions, because they are extremists.” He added that the government needed to take a firmer hand in combating violent protests and to ensure peace.

“The army must exercise leadership and deliver justice. The law must be applied… Some of these people are jailed for one, two days and then released.”

Many Tunisians, however, are quick to note that they support freedom to express one’s religious beliefs, but in a peaceful manner. And while some people are worried about the recent events, others were unfazed by the confrontations, and some even pointed to the artwork as provocation. “People know what Salafists do. They don’t want to see pictures of the Prophet without clothes, like in Denmark,” said Mene Lamjed, a local taxi driver.

He is not worried about a religious conservative movement. “They are Tunisian people. We discuss with them and they are not aggressive. Salafists here are not as violent as in other places.”

He cited the Spanish revolution as an example of chaotic political transitions. “In all revolutions, like in Spain, it takes five years to develop the country. We have had only 6 months with this government. Tunisia is okay. There are no big problems of terrorism. The issue is economic… We will succeed because we do not have major problems,” he concluded.

Saim Nabil, a flight attendant, agreed with Lamjed. “There was provocation on all sides,” he explains. He was unsurprised by the reaction, and also said that it was simply part of the transition.

He also noted that there are ties between people’s perception of the government and its manipulation of what he considered Salafist activity. “Salafists are the army of Ennahda. When people are upset about the government, the government allows Salafists to do something, so people are afraid.”

Nabil concluded by explaining the process of revolution and the time it takes for consolidation. He is hopeful that “in one, two, three, or even five years, Tunisia will find its way.”