Tunisia

Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin MOSCOW, September 19 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin touted traditionalism as the heart of Russia’s national identity on Thursday, lamenting threats like globalization and multiculturalism, the drive for a “unipolar world” and the erosion of Christian values – including an exaggerated focus on the rights of sexual minorities. “Without the values at the core of Christianity and other world religions, without moral norms that have been shaped over millennia, people will inevitably lose their human dignity,” Putin said, addressing several hundred Russian and foreign officials, scholars and other public figures at a Kremlin-backed conference in northwestern Russia. In a speech and question-answer session lasting over three hours, ...

NOVANEWS ‘You have to respect the religion of others,’ says feminist Amina Sboui who was jailed in Tunisia for nude photos; Femen hits back:’[Sboui] betraying the thousands of women.’ Haaretz The 19-year-old, who spent more than two months in prison for tagging the wall of a cemetery with the word “Femen,” said she was shocked by some of the protests held by Femen, three of whose members spent a month in jail in Tunisia over a topless protest held in solidarity. Sboui told the Huffington Post Maghreb news site: “I did not approve of the protest where the girls cried ‘Amina Akbar, Femen Akbar’ in front of the Tunisian embassy in France, or when they burnt the Tawheed (Salafist) flag in front of the Paris mosque.” “You have to respect the religion of others,” she added, accusing Femen of b...

NOVANEWS   The Open Wireless Movement has come to Tunisia! Tunisia Flag by JGVibes When former Tunisian dictator Ben Ali was ousted, the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) was quickly transformed from an institution control to one of openness, reversing the oppressive censorship policies of the Ben Ali era. Similarly, the ATI's building—once a private home of Ben Ali—is now being transformed into a space for citizens to innovate. Inside the basement of the building is #404Lab, a hackerspace thatreclaims the space where censorship was once conducted. On Saturday, June 15, the space was launched in an event attended by both local hackers and allies from around the world, including EFF's Jillian York and Seth Schoen. Moez Chakchouk, chairman of and CEO of the ATI, was present to dedic...

NOVANEWS The slogan in red Arabic lettering, "Khair min ha?" ("Are you better than her?") is displayed at the center of this banner, created by civil society groups as part of a campaign to promote women's rights in Tunisia. Photo taken March 2013. (photo by Nafeesa Syeed) By: Nafeesa Syeed  TUNIS, Tunisia — Like many young people roused by Tunisia's revolution, international law student Soukaina Joumni dove into politics. After two decades of dictatorship, dozens of political parties emerged. Joumni joined the center-left Congress Party for the Republic, running as a candidate for the National Constituent Assembly in the October 2011 elections. "In this period, many of the youth wanted to participate," the 31-year-old woman says. "They wanted to be a part of p...

NOVANEWS Amina Tyler, 19, was found in the midst of police scuffles with hardline Salafist group Ansar al-Shariah. (Photo via Femen France on Facebook) Zionist Al Arabiya After months of reportedly going into hiding, the outspoken Tunisian feminist who sparked a trend of “topless jihad” has been found and arrested by Tunisian authorities earlier this week and may be charged for conducting “provocative acts.” Amina Tyler, 19, was found in the midst of police scuffles with hardline Salafist group Ansar al-Shariah in the central Tunisian city of Kairouan on Sunday. Tyler previously described herself as a member of the Ukrainian feminist group Femen, which uses nudity in protests. Witnesses said she allegedly scrawled “Femen” on the wall near the main mosque and may have intended to hang a...

NOVANEWS Tunisians shout slogans to demand tighter security within the country during a rally in front of the National Constituents Assembly in the Bardo district in Tunis, May 10, 2013. (photo by REUTERS/Anis Mili) Translated from El-Khabar (Algeria).   The Sigma Conseil Market Research Co., a polling firm for the Tunisian Al-Maghreb newspaper, published results showing a drop in the popularity of the ruling Ennahda party. Most respondents said that if the elections are held now, they would vote for Nidaa Tunis, which came in first place. The poll estimated that Nidaa Tunis would get 90 of the 199 parliamentary seats, compared to 68 for Ennahda. Al-Maghreb described those results as a “political earthquake” that threatens Ennahda, which was very popular at t...

 NOVANEWS   خبر غريب وعجيب من علامات الساعة الويل ثم الويل لكوريا الشمالية الرئاسة التونسية تستنكر وبشدة التجربة النووية التي أجرتها كوريا الشمالية. يذكرني ذلك بإمارة شرقي الأردن حين أعلنت الحرب على ألمانيا أثناء الحرب العالمية الثانية، حينها بدأت ألمانيا "ترتعد" من الأسطول الشرق أردني في البحر الميت... التاريخ يعيد نفسه والسؤال هو: ما شأن "الرئاسة التونسية" بأمر كهذا؟ هل أصبحت تونس تحت القيادة "الإسلامية الراشدة" دولة عظمى تهتم بكل صغيرة وكبيرة تحدث في العالم؟ هل هذه التجربة تعرض الوجود التونسي للفناء؟ والسؤال الأهم: ماذا ستفعل الرئاسة التونسية إزاء هذه التجربة؟ هل ستقطع الأساطيل وحاملات الطائرات التونسية البحار والمحيطات إلى كوريا الشمالية لتعطيها درسا لا تنساه حتى لا تجرؤ في يوم من الأيام على قيام عمل إجرامي يهدد "أمن وسلامة تونس والكيان الصهيوني للخطر؟" أليس هنالك أمور أهم للرئاس...

NOVANEWS Killing Follows Many Unpunished Assaults on Activists, Others Email The body of Tunisian opposition Chokri Belaid (top R) arrives amidst tens of thousands of protesters as they demonstrate on Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis on February 6, 2013. © 2013 Reuters This assassination is the gravest incident yet in a climate of mounting violence. Since Tunisia’s revolution, there have been violent assaults against journalists, political activists, artists, and simple citizens, many of which the authorities did not investigate, let alone prosecute. Eric Goldstein, deputy Middle East and North Africa director (Tunis) – Tunisian authorities should ensure that those responsible for the assassination on February 6, 2013 of the prominent opposition political ...

NOVANEWS Repression of Siliana Protests Shows Need for Nonviolent Means, Training Bilal Bayari, an 18-year-old high school student, injured by birdshot in Siliana on November 28, 2012. © 2012 Ahmed Kaaniche/Human Rights Watch The anti-riot police, who played a central role in the bloody effort to stamp out the Tunisian revolution two years ago, still appear to be using excessive force against protesters. Eric Goldstein, deputy Middle East director (Tunis) – Clashes between police and protesters in the northern city of Siliana on November 27 and 28, 2012, injuring more than 210 people, highlight the urgent need to reform Tunisia’s security forces. The government should ensure that the announced independent commission of inquiry investigates any exces...