The decision to declare a state of emergency in the aftermath of the Sousse Attack has plunged the country into a manifold debate among political, and civil societies, as well as the state elected and security institutions. While there is consensus on the danger terrorism poses on the country, Tunisian stakeholders diverge on the remedy. Measures undertaken in the wake of the Sousse attack, such as the closure of 25 mosques so far, the taking off air of Zitouna TV, Tounesna TV, Al-Insen TV, Nour, MFM, and Al Quran Al Karim radio, as well as the construction of a security barrier of around 200 km along the country’s border with Libya have led to nuanced reactions. The UGTT labour union and other leftist opposition parties feared that the government is taking advantage of the state of emergency powers to silence opposition. Civil society groups fear it has given carte blanche to the security apparatus to crack down on dissent. Deep in the south communities are sceptical of the border barrier considering it “a punishment of the southern inhabitants, in order to impoverish them further” for “the northern Tunisians, unlike the southern, voted for Nidaa Tounes.” Voices that dare to question the effectiveness of the security approach and the human rights abuses are labelled as lacking in patriotism. Retired colonel Houssine Bzainia said in a recent interview, “the insufficient action of political parties and civil society give the impression that this war [on terror] is not theirs.”
Links for more information:
http://nawaat.org/portail/2015/07/12/apres-lattentat-de-sousse-quand-la-guerre-contre-le-terrorisme
http://www.lapresse.tn/14072015/101743/letat-de-guerre-implique-un-seul-commandant-operationnel
http://www.lapresse.tn/14072015/101745/le-groupe-terroriste-de-jebel-ourbata-planifiait
https://www.fidh.org/La-Federation-internationale-des-ligues-des-droits-de-l-homme/
