· February, 2012

Stories about Tunisia from February, 2012

Tunisia: McCain's Visit Stirs up Anti-US Feelings

  27 February 2012

Senator John McCain's visit to Tunisia on Thursday, February 23, left Tunisian Internet users angry over what they called Ennahda's 'double standards.' Hundreds of Facebook comments, dozens of tweets and many pictures filled social media platforms frequented by Tunisians after a controversial picture of Tunisian Prime Minister, Hamadi Jebali, hugging the Senator.

Greece: Athens, 1st African Film Festival Week

  23 February 2012

The first African Film Festival will take place in Athens, Greece, from February 23 to 29, 2012, with the collaboration of various African countries’ embassies and consulates. Twenty one films from Angola, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Egypt and Ethiopia will be screened. The event is hosted by the Greek Film...

Tunisia: Court Quashes Verdict Ordering the Filtering of Pornography

  22 February 2012

Today, the Cassation Court of Tunis (highest court of appeal) threw out a verdict to censor pornography on the Internet. On May, 26, 2011, a court of first instance issued a ruling ordering the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI), to filter X rated websites. At the time, the decision was criticised by by bloggers, and free speech advocates, who believed that such step could limit freedom of speech, and thus pave the way for the return of censorship. Today's decision received a more favourable response online.

Tunisia: LGBT Outrage at Human Rights Minister's Comments

  17 February 2012

The Tunisian Minister of Human Rights has stated on a private Tunisian TV channel that freedom of expression has limits when it comes to Tunisian queers to express themselves. He also compared homosexuality to sexual perversion and mental illness. The country's LGBT community responds.

Tunisia: Visit of an Egyptian Islamist Preacher Causes Uproar

  17 February 2012

Wajdi Ghonim, an Egyptian Islamist preacher has recently visited Tunisia, where he gave a series of religious lectures. His visit has been the centre of a heated debate on citizen media and angered many in Tunisia, because of his support for female genital mutilation.

Tunisia: Social Media Campaign to Legalize Marijuana Underway

  14 February 2012

Legalize It was an album by the Jamaican and pro-marijuana consumption, Peter Tosh, in 1976. Now Legalize It! is a social media campaign for the legalization of marijuana in Tunisia. Ahmed Medien sums up netizen reactions to consuming marijuana ahead of a protest planned in front of Parliament to call for its legalization on Saturday, February 18.

Tunisia: Spoiling the Revolution

  11 February 2012

Jolanare is weary of where the Tunisian revolution is heading to in terms of women's rights [fr]. She writes:  “A young man verbally attacked me because I was wearing red lipstick. He shouted at me : “these are the so-called women of the democracy.”  I replied that it is thanks...

Africa: Highs and Lows of the 2012 African Cup of Nations

  6 February 2012

People unite around their national football teams in Africa more than anywhere else in the world. In the fervour surrounding the 2012 African Cup of Nations, there are two points that attract the attention of bloggers. The first is the absence of the usual great nations of African football and the second is that of the complicated issue surrounding bonuses.