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Tunisia: The Cry of Protestors Echoes Around the World

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, North America, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, India, Iran, Lebanon, Netherlands, Taiwan (ROC), Tunisia, U.S.A., Breaking News, Digital Activism, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Politics, Protest

This post is part of our special coverage of Tunisia Revolution 2011 [1].

The cries of Tunisians, protesting against corruption and joblessness for the past two weeks, is gathering momentum on the World Wide Web. Netizens from around the world are rallying behind them and echoing their calls.

It all started when an unemployed man set himself on fire [2] in protest against his unemployment in Sidi Bouzid [3]. According to the Los Angeles Times [4]:

The death triggered violent clashes between young demonstrators and
police forces that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old after
National Guard members opened fire on angry protesters in a nearby town
two days later.

Further marches and protests later spread to the capital and the cities of Sfax, Sousse and Meknassi.

From India, Anja Kovacs hits the nail on the head. She tweets [5]:

Tunisia's seen a genuine revolt over last few weeks, but outside of Middle East, it's hardly reported. Why? http://bit.ly/he2Let [6] #sidibouzid [7]

She adds [8]:

To know more abt what is happening in #Tunisia [9] & get continuous updates, good people to follow are @ifikra [10] , @weddady [11], @nawaat [12] #sidibouzid [7]

Egyptian Wael Nofal poses a similar question in this tweet [13]:

@stephenfry [14] Are you following what's going on in #SidiBouZid [15] #Tunisia [9] ؟It's odd why western media turned face away, unlike #Iran [16] last year

And DanersB, who splits her time between Beirut, Dubai and Montreal, notes [17]:

Ever the optimist! @dr_davidson [18]: Heavyhandedness from #Tunisia [9] ‘s despot, #BenAli [19], may well set the tone for the #Arab [20] world's next decade

From the US, HarvardDr brings up [21] yet another reference to Iran – this time referring to the end of the Shah's era. He writes (Ar):

مثل شاه ايران اسياده تخلوا عنه: فرنسا تقول: بن على فقد الاتصال بالواقع! تونس حرة السراق برة تونس حرة ليلي برة #sidibouzid [7] #tunisia [22] #tunisie [23]
Just like the Shah of Iran, whose masters ditched him: France says: Ben Ali lost contact with reality! Tunisia is free! The thief should leave! Tunisia is free! Layla (in reference to Ben Ali's wife) should leave!

From Washington DC, Priyanka Joseph is stunned by the wall of silence. She writes [24]:

Someone's channeling Kundera [25]. Shit's going down in #Tunisia [9], not a word of it on the news here (no surprise) nor on TTrends/my timeline.

Anne Eksten, from Denmark, notes [26]:

Government #Tunisia [9] respond to peaceful protest by Live Ammunition, Security Siege, Violence http://goo.gl/rnL0p [27] /@Elicoopter_mid [28] @RamyRaoof [29]

And from the Netherlands, Mark adds [30]:

“We are unhappy with the policies in Tunisia, we are unhappy with everything – it is not just unemployment.” #tunisia [22]

Egyptian writer Mona Eltahawy urges [31] her colleagues in the media to make a stand:

Friends, esp those with media connections, please tweet and RT #Tunisia [9] and #SidiBouzid [32]. Let's stand with Tunisians fighting oppression.

And Hisham Kassem, also from Egypt, is baffled [33]:

رئيس إسرائيل السابق ادين منذ قليل بتهمة التحرش بموظفه في مكتبه وزين العابدين بيتحرش بتونس كلها #SidiBouzid [32] #Tunisia [9] وماحدش قادر يحاسبه
A few moments ago, the former Israeli Prime Minister President was charged with harassing a female employee in his office and Zainalabdeen has been harassing the whole of Tunisia and no one is able to hold him accountable

Meanwhile, from Portnoy, from Taiwan, is left wondering [34]:

What's happening in Tunisia? #tunisia [22]

For more tweets on Tunisia, check the hashtags #Tunisia [35] and #sidibouzid [7]

This post is part of our special coverage of Tunisia Revolution 2011 [1].