Discontent over an animated movie stirs violent clashes between Islamists and Freedom Fighters

“I was in front of the courthouse. A man ripped off the sign on which I wrote ”In the Quran, even Satan have the right to speak.” Other men called me a “disbeliever”… Another man came next to me and threatened me: “get away from here or we’ll make you disappear”… Other bearded men with black flags treat freedom expression defenders with ‘disbelievers’ and other slogans that I cannot remember now…”

It’s with these words Lilia Weslaty, human rights activist and journalist, describes her today’s participation to the support gathering for the Tunisian television channel, Nessma TV and to freedom of expression.

On the other side, numerous Salafists chanted slogans such “hey Coward Media; Muslim people don’t get insulted ”and” the people want the fall of the channel.”

They also chanted a slogan inspired from one of Gadhafi’s speeches “street, street, house, house, we’re after you disbelievers”. A slogan interpreted as a shaming being inspired from the speech of a bloody dictator and for categorizing Tunisians into two camps.

Today’s trial is the result of the broadcast of award-winning film ‘Persepolis’ on the 1979 Iranian Revolution, told from the perspective of a little girl. The French animated movie aired in late October provoked angry reactions and is alleged to be blasphemous because it includes a scene showing a representation of God.

Criminal proceedings against the owner of a Tunisian television channel, that screened the film ‘Persepolis’ is an affront to freedom of expression - declared Amnesty International before the trial, scheduled for today, January 23^rd.

Nabil Karoui, owner of Nessma TV, is being judged for violation of “sacred values” and “disturbing public order”. A complaint was filed against the owner and two employees of Nessma TV by 144 people, including lawyers. If convicted, he might be sentenced up to 3 years in prison.

Nabil Karoui’s house was set on fire on October 14^th following a demonstration outside the offices of Nessma TV, in the center of Tunis. A group of Salafists is suspected to be after the incident.

“It is very disturbing to see Nabil Karoui prosecuted only because he released a film showing scenes conceived of God, said Philip Luther, Acting Director of the program in North Africa and Middle East at Amnesty International.

The trial got postponed to April 19^th – couple of lawyers explained today that their position is to defend the Spirit of God harmed by the cartoon representation. They claim respecting the freedom expression by carrying their discontent to court. “Every society has it’s own sacred beliefs to be respected and that’s the limit of freedom of expression”, says one of the lawyers.

Nabil Karoui announced today his discontent with the ban on the media to film the trial unlike the first time. He mentioned this is not a good sign.

This is the first opinion case in new Tunisia. Today they are not judging Nabil Karoui, yet they are judging ten million Tunisians and their dreams of democracy, freedoms and progress.

“I’m optimist but also feeling sorry. We’re being judged here. They burnt my house and tried to kill few of the people they work with me and my family. Those who did this are still free out there. I hope Tunisia won’t turn into a Freedoms’ Guantanamo”.

A Salafist guy is caught on tape today calling not to use violence against those who support Nessma TV’s case.

Nevertheless, a number of well-known journalists and public figures have been subject to verbal and physical violence today. Zied Krichen and Hamadi Redissi a law professor at Tunis University were subject to moral and physical attacks by Slafists gathering in front of the courthouse.

“I had to go out for a coffee before returning to the courtroom. And that’s where some individuals, targeted me personally and assaulted me. The academic Hamadi, who tried to protect me was also verbally abused and received the same punches and kicks”, says Zied Krichen.

Hamadi J’bali, Prime Minister of the newly elected government denounced the attacks in a word aired later in the day.

Abd Halim Masoodi, journalist and TV presenter at Nessma TV got equally assaulted today. Reasons might be linked to one of his late debates where he interrupted his guest Kamel Chihawi, a university professor claiming the broadcast of French-Iranian animated movie being part of a bigger agenda. A plan aiming at influencing the people and scare them from the Islamists.

Or how else you explain the broadcast of such a movie only 2 weeks prior the elections, he said.

Questioned later, the TV presenter mentioned being present today to support the TV channel not as a journalist but a regular citizen who supports freedom of expression.

A group of people gathered around me in a scary way acting as they hold the sole truth and the sole answer. They treated me of Atheist and non-believer and they hit me. He adds.

Tunisian journalists have been the target of multiple attacks in recent months, led by members of the security forces and others, according to reports.

“Tunisia is progressing in some areas of human rights, but it clearly has much work to be done to respect freedom of expression,” said Philip Luther.

Today’s trial is echoing hard in different corners of the Tunisian web and also traditional media.

The recent Amnesty International report entitled “A year of rebellion. The human rights situation in the Middle East and North Africa” shows that the provisional government of Tunisia has not yet developed the comprehensive reform of human rights demanded by the demonstrators since a year ago.

One year after the ouster of former President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali over a series of street demonstrations ignited by the self-immolation of a young man from the semi-rural city of Sidi Bouzid on December 17^th, the authorities have taken some initial positive steps, including the adoption of important treaties on human rights and giving, in general, more freedom to the media and organizations defending human rights.

In most cases, however, the country’s security forces are still not brought to account for their actions and victims of human rights violations continue to wait for justice – conducted Amnesty International in a recent press communique.

Talk Show with H. Clinton or Another face of the hypocrite American democracy

Apologies in advance for American friends and readers, this post might make you feel offended but bear in mind it’s a reaction against the US government.

(Just for the record many American friends I know personally disagree with their goverment on numerous levels as well, so you shouldn’t be offended, really).

The visit of Hillary Clinton -the American Foreign Minister- to both Egypt and Tunisia got viral on some news channels worldwide and also Tunisians, how not and H. Clinton is the first extra  VIP person to come to Tunisia since January 14^th (The date Ben Ali flee the country).

Not just the visit and its unknown purpose but also a media blackout on the exact day of her visit were all enough reasons to push young Tunisians to step down to the street and demonstrate in Hbib Bourghiba Avenue (main street in the capital), Next to the American Embassy in Tunis and at Tunis Carthage airport. Demonstrations were held during these past 3 days (15-16 and 17^th of March).

Well, what started as peaceful manifestations ended with violent attack by the police! It was reported that the police attacked and arrested couple of protesters, it was also reported that dogs were used to frighten the protesters and signs lifted by about 30 demonstrators were destroyed by the police.

What happened to freedom of peaceful protests and associations?

On her arrival at the airport Wednesday 16^th, H. Clinton refused to answer journalist’s questions claiming that she’s keeping all the answers for the exclusive Talk Show with Nessma TV!

The next day at 1pm, a press conference was held at the Foreign Affairs Minister, 100 journalists attended and waited for about 3 hours and a half and guess what, the press conference got cancelled and her highest Mrs. Clinton had to attend a private/closed meeting with some government officials.

Let’s now come to the exclusive talk show at Nessma TV that wasn’t even live:

Simply it wasn’t far away from what it was expected to look like. Let me just highlight that the news that came right after the talk show didn’t mention at all the protests against H. Clinton’s visit; on the opposite they acknowledged the importance of her visit and even gave a preview of the set where the show will happen full with audience.

The questions that were asked were already prepared (and so the answers I believe), so much of the exclusivity and transparency!

I was dump enough to get excited that they took a question from the facebook community (it was about the opportunity of having more scholarships to study abroad)… really! Shoot Me Please.

Throughout the one hour talk show, you could only notice the fake diplomatic big smiles of H. Clinton when speaking the words that she knows that we like to hear besides giving promises and asking to hear our demands so she could revise them and see what her government could give.

She also talked on America being the oldest democratic country in the world and how she wants to share their experience to help our new born Democratic Tunisia…Excuse me but who cares about what Washington thinks or wants. What part of the word we’re F.R.E.E they don’t get? She even quoted Martin Luther King when saying “I have a dream” and started preaching us on how we should start and keep working hard about building the nation we dreamed of!

Questions that came after were just safe mainly about business partnerships, grants and the situation in the neighboring Libya.

It was also surprising how the audience spoke fluent English although coming from the Frenchy Tunisia; I’m not stereotyping but trying to get to the point where Nessma TV played another shameful role _ the role of a censor by not allowing certain people to attend the Talk Show!

For those who followed the updates on twitter and facebook, you might’ve noticed that it was supposed that Clinton would speak to some Tunisian bloggers. Apparently the US embassy and Microsoft recommended to Nessma a list of bloggers that they know; also Nessma TV had already its favorite bloggers list.

What’s surprising is that people like Sofien Chourabi blogger and journalist, Emna Ben Jemaa blogger and journalist and Ali boulila blogger and co-founder of Twestivel Tunisia were denied to come to the show even after being proposed by the American embassy. Also didn’t notice that Nawaat were even invited.

I have a question: Did she come to talk to bloggers and people from civil society or just people picked up by Nessma TV_ Emna Ben Jemaa raised a question?!

I then got the news that those approved by Nessma TV are: hamzovsky_, faiyla , accent circonflexe et slim404

I also received the news that Liliopatra , mira404 Fatma Arabica zinga_ had refused to attend the talk show, may be in support to the 3 days long protests or may be in support of “friends” that got denied invitation probably because of their opinion or may be for certain personal reasons such being busy or hate towards the American government… which I hope all those audience acted upon and boycott that silly meeting with Clinton.

Did they have to be strict in selecting people that they keep under control what questions to be asked? Some of the questions maybe like:

-  How could Clinton explain the tear gas bombs and weapons and the live ammunition that were used against Tunisians and Egyptians AND were made in USA and Israel?

-  How the American government is so hypocrite when supporting dictators and then talking about exporting their democracy?

Or maybe what her response would be when it comes to the over use of the Vito against decisions that serves Palestinians first interest.

Could spending  about 15 minutes during the show  speaking about how Clinton manages among being  a mother, a politician and have sometime for personal life? Or speaking about her supportive husband Bill and the fact that he plays saxophone and her married daughter Chelsey!  Be more important than the few questions I wrote.  Do we seem like we give a damn about her personal life and her husband’s saxophone?!

I won’t elaborate more on this part because it summed up in a nice way in one of the American Congress members Ron Paul here:

If there is something good she mentioned during the entire show, then it would be according to me: raising the question: how could we build democracy by neglecting the voices of half of the population (meaning women).

And maybe the other good thing when ending the show, the presenters invited her to spend a vacation in Tunisia and she said that she’ll try (another promise) or like she’s ever welcome to come again but she directed an appeal to come visit Tunisia to boost her economy through tourism.

Kacem Jlidi

March 17th 2011