Tunisian Human Rights

Hello readers, welcome back to my MENA Human Rights Blog. This Week I will be discussing the Human Rights of the Republic of Tunisia. Tunisia went from being a protectorate of France to constituting the beginning and the epicenter of the Arab Spring Movement. 

Tunisia became a French colony through conquest at the same time as neighboring Algeria. The French subjected the Tunisian to less oppressive measures than the Algerian by appointing Tunisian Ministers, keeping their Monarch, not confiscating land, and did not displace the population (History of Tunisia). Despite the contrast between the French state’s treatment with the Algerians and Tunisians the French still had supreme authority in the country. In between WW1 and WW2 independence movements were repressed by the French authorities. After WWII, the French gave concessions to independence movements through increased autonomy and control over policy. Two leaders of the prominent Tunisian independence party, New Constitutional Liberal Party (or Neo Destour) were Salah Ben Youssef and Habib Bourguiba fought for power in the midst of an increasingly independent Tunisia. Eventually in 1956, Tunisia was independent from France. After chasing out his rival, Ben Youssef, Habib Bourguiba became the first president of the newly independent country (History of Tunisia). During his presidency Tunisia underwent modernization and development which included education, women's rights, and economic development of impoverished parts of the country. Despite these reforms, Bourguiba consolidated power and eventually was given the role of president for life by Tunisia’s Chamber of deputies in 1975 (History of Tunisia). In the following years, there was opposition to the government from Islamists who were part of the Islamic Tendency Movement (or MTI) and crackdowns on demonstrations against declining economic conditions, and a campaign by the government against MTI. Due to declining health, Bourguiba was declared unfit to rule and was succeeded by the Prime Minister, General Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (History of Tunisia). Ben Ali promised advancements in liberalization and democracy which included legalization of political parties. However, Ali’s rule was characterized by increased authoritarianism through over-reach by security forces, media censorship, and failed electoral reforms (Arab Uprising). In 2010, protests over economic hardship, authoritarianism associated with Ben Ali’s rule, and corruption were sparked by Mohamed Bouazizi after he set himself on fire after Tunisian authorities prevented him from selling vegetables and demanded bribes and confiscated his merchandise (Arab Uprising). During the demonstrations, over 300 demonstrators were killed by security forces and after 23 years of being president of Tunisia, Ben Ali was forced to resign in 2011 and fled to Saudi Arabia. In 2013, Tunisia held their first parliamentary elections which resulted in the election of the moderate Islamist party, Ennahda. Under the new government, opposition between conservative religious parties and secular political parties became the new feature of Tunisian politics. Secular opposition accused the new government of sanctioning violence against leftists by jihadists (Arab Uprising). In 2014 a compromise was reached between the two rival factions through the implementation of a new constitution which was praised by international observers. Recently in 2021, President Kias Saied invoked emergency powers and suspended parliament and later dismissed members of the Judiciary which has been described as a power grab or a coup. The political instability and crisis continues today with the president giving himself powers to change the constitution and to dissolve parliament, restricting NGOs, and security forces killing and harming protesters (Tunisia's Saied). Tunisia was the starting point for the Arab Spring protests which changed the Middle East. It was also the Protests against Ben Ali that inspired the protests throughout the region which fought for democracy, freedom, economic rights, equality, and inclusion into the political process. Tunisia was one of the more successful experiments among the Arab Spring movement as opposed to neighboring countries such as Egypt. Regardless of Tunisia’s progress there are still issues of extrajudicial killings, authoritarianism, and polarization and violence by various governments post Arab spring. Tunisia must solve their current political crisis through going back to the principles of the original protests which included democratization, improving economic conditions, holding public officials to account and guaranteeing freedom for all in Tunisia.

Citations:

“Arab Uprising: Country by Country - Tunisia.” BBC News, BBC, 16 Dec. 2013, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-12482315. 

“History of Tunisia.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/place/Tunisia/History. 

“Tunisia's Saied Issues Decree Strengthening Presidential Powers.” Politics News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 22 Sept. 2021, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/22/tunisia-saied-issues-decree-strengthening-presidential-powers.