Tunisia Live

Femen Activist Amina Still in Custody; Trial to Begin Next Week

Amira Masrour — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:01:44 +0000

The controversial Tunisian activist known as Amina, who posted topless pictures of herself online as part of the Femen campaign earlier this year, has been charged with two crimes and will go on trial May 30, according to Femen France. She was arrested last Sunday in Kairouan as she protested against a planned congress of the conservative [...]

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Seven Suspects Arrested for Murder of Police Officer

Tristan Dreisbach — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:17:07 +0000

Seven suspects described by the government as religious extremists have been arrested for involvement in the killing of a police officer in Tunis earlier this month. The Ministry of Interior announced the arrests in a statement released yesterday. Two additional suspects have yet to be apprehended, according to the ministry. The statement called the arrested [...]

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Blog: Zaghouan, Where the Aqueduct Begins

Tristan Dreisbach — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:55:24 +0000

While higher-profile coastal town like Sousse, Hammamet, and Carthage may dominate your Tunisia guidebook, it is quite often the less-traveled, out of the way spots that provide the most satisfying and rewarding experiences in this diverse and scenic country. After nearly three months in which I never left the confines of metropolitan Tunis, I joined a [...]

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Nidaa Tounes Endorses Essebsi, but Constitution May Disqualify Him

Amira Masrour — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:51:44 +0000

The Nidaa Tounes opposition party has endorsed its founder, Beji Caid Essebsi, as its candidate for the presidency, but an article in the draft constitution and a law being considered by the parliament could disqualify him from the office. The Nidaa Tounes executive bureau decided yesterday to endorse Essebsi as its presidential candidate, party spokesman [...]

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African Union Celebrates, but Tunisia is Missing

Zied Mhirsi — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:16:39 +0000

ADDIS ABABA - African nations are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Organization of African States this week, but Tunisia, one of its founding members, is in many ways missing from the festivities. The Organization was the precursor to the African Union, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. 75 heads of state were expected to converge [...]

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Draft Law Would Preserve Memory of Past Crimes

Amira Masrour — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:10:57 +0000

Two National Constituent Assembly (NCA) committees continued yesterday their discussion of a draft law on transitional justice that would address crimes and rights violations from Tunisia’s recent past. According to Souad Abderrahim, an NCA member from the ruling Ennahdha who yesterday attended a working session of the committees, the law is important and should be [...]

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Tunisians’ Daily Lives Transformed by Lack of Security

Asma Smadhi — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:51:22 +0000

Security concerns have fundamentally affected the day-to-day lives of Tunisians, from how they plan their evenings to how they will spend their summer vacations. The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Interior are meeting today to discuss security measures to ensure the success of the tourist season this summer, but there is a widespread [...]

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Prime Minister Pledges to Fight Violent Extremists

Amira Masrour — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:35:05 +0000

Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh said today that Ansar Sharia is illegal organization that should be combated through security and judicial intervention, and that the recent instances of violence will not postpone the completion of the new constitution and determination of a date for the next election. “Ansar al-Sharia is an illegal organization that employs violence and some [...]

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Ansar al-Sharia Spokesman Released; Status of Friday Protest Uncertain

Asma Smadhi — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:36:40 +0000

Ansar al-Sharia spokesman Seifeddine Rais was released Wednesday afternoon after being detained for four days, calling into question whether the organization will still hold a protest in Kairouan on Friday. Rais, arrested last Saturday, was accused of calling for violence and disseminating false information. Charges were dropped as his statements were deemed to be opinions [...]

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Anonymous Letter Claims New Details on Belaid Assassination

Amira Masrour — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:46:29 +0000

The spokesman for assassinated opposition politician Chokri Belaid’s Popular Front coalition claims to have acquired an anonymous letter with further details about Belaid’s murder. Hamma Hammami said yesterday on the Nessma television station that his wife, Radhia Nasraoui, a lawyer and human rights activist, received a letter yesterday with details about the assassination, which occurred February [...]

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