Continued Salafist assaults on Tunisian cultural events

The police intervened an hour after the violence erupted and used tear gas . Four people were arrested."At the Youth House in Bizerte, about 200 people affiliated Salafists used violence to prevent an event organized by associations on the occasion of the" Day of Jerusalem "to denounce the presence of some Arab  guests indicated the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Festival organisers told Radio Mosaic that the salafists were probably protesting against the presence of  Samir Kantar, a militant of the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF). A concert of Iranian musicians on Tuesday and a show  with the famous comedian, Lotfi Abdelli, had to be cancelled  on Wednesday.

Continued government passivity in the face of armed groups of Salafists is alarming secular Tunisians and artists and actors. Holding events during Ramadan which might cause offence is of course risky and performers  and organisers have to exercise their judgement about the subject matter they address. However the pressure from salafists is relentless and is going largely unchecked. Civil liberties and artistic freedom of expression are seen by many as under attack in Tunisia amidst government indifference.