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Tunisia: Bloggers Against Student Imprisonment

· Written by Lina Ben Mhenni

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Tunisia, Digital Activism, Education, Protest

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The recent trials of a group of Tunisian students and their sentencing to prison terms ranging from six months of three years after organizing a sit-in in a university accommodation to claim the right of girl students in housing prompted bloggers to launch a support campaign calling for their freedom.

A Facebook group, entitled No to Students Imprisonment [1] and a blog: Free Jailed Tunisian Students [2] were created. Tunisian bloggers wrote about this story.

Foetus [3] explains :

Tunisian Students were jailed from 6 months to 3 years for protesting against the housing problem they are facing. I completely disagree with this sentence, the trial is a political trial that was disguised. Please spread the word and protest against the tunisian dictatorship.

Carpediem [4] blogged about the issue and said:

Quoi de plus légitime et normal quand on est jeune, étudiant et doté d'un minimum de conscience que de se sentir concerné par l'amélioration des conditions de logement et d'études des dizaines de milliers de jeunes tunisiens inscrits à l'université. Et quoi de plus pacifique comme action de protestation que d'organiser des sit-in dans une résidence universitaire pour faire entendre ces revendications?

Et pourtant…Ce qui est considéré sous d'autres cieux moins répressifs comme une demande légitime et un engagement plutôt sain est systématiquement puni par de lourdes peines de prison en Tunisie, ce pays qui continue de se targuer d'être à l'initiative du programme onusien “2010, année internationale de la jeunesse”…Quelle hypocrisie!

What is more legitimate and normal when you are a young student with the minimum of conscience than to feel concerned for the improvement of housing conditions and education for tens of thousands of young Tunisians attending university. And what could be more peaceful as a protest action than organizing sit-ins in a residence hall to make these claims?

And yet … What is seen in other places less repressive as a legitimate request and a rather healthy commitment is systematically punished by heavy imprisonment in Tunisia, a country which continues to claim to be at the origin of the initiative, the UN's 2010 International Year of Youth “… What hypocrisy!

Au Quotidien [5] adds:

Parce que leur place n'est pas en prison, parce que leurs activités syndicales sont un droit absolu, parce que nous refusons l'emprisonnement pour les opinions politiques,les blogueurs Tunisiens se mobilisent pour soutenir et venir en aide aux étudiants détenus!!
Un groupe de soutien aux étudiants détenus a été crée sur Facebook, rejoignez-le!!

Because their place is not in jail, because their union activities are an absolute right, because we refuse imprisonment for political opinions, Tunisian bloggers are mobilizing themselves to support and help detained students.
A support group for the students has been created on Facebook. Please join it!!