Salafists continue violence in Tunisia.
On Sunday, the interior ministry said it had arrested about 15 people who torched police stations and attacked bars in the northwestern towns of Jendouba and Ghardimaou a day ago.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Salafists-conti...
National army units had been deployed after the violence to protect public buildings according to TAP.
"The law will be applied. These incidents are dangerous and will be dealt with in the appropriate manner," secretary of state for the interior Said Mechichi told TAP.
200 Salafis reacted violently to the arrest on Friday of a fellow Muslim adhering to their brand of Islam. They threw Molotov cocktails and stones at Jendouba’s national security headquarters, their numbers growing to some 500 as they moved to the center of town. They set fire to the police station and pillaged bars and stores where alcohol was sold en route , some calling for a holy war, TAP reported.
As police used tear gas, soldiers took up positions outside public buildings. The Salafis eventually took refuge in a mosque,TAP said.
Last week Tunisia's Justice Minister Noureddine Bheiri threatened to punish those who use violence to impose their views on others after Salafists forced a number of bars to close.
"Will the government be disarmed by the Salafists?" asked Le Temps, pointing to the "yawning gap between the speeches and the actions."
La Presse, headlined its Sunday edition "the state challenged", referring to the "laxness of the authorities."
"Violent groups which are outside the law propagate terror," said the head of the Tunisian League of Human Rights, Abdessatar Ben Moussa.
They "physically and morally attack women, intellectuals, journalists, designers, unionists, politicians as well as human rights activists," he said.
Tourism Minister Elies Fakhfakh meanwhile warned last week of the "wrong and aggressive image" generated by the Salafists.
Salafist violence in Tunisia has been a problem since the revolution in both cities and out lying areas. It is estimated that there are 10,000 Salafists in the total Tunisian population of over ten million, however they are having an effect which goes far beyond their numbers . Violence in Sidi Bouzid the town where the revolution started points to a dangerous correlation between salafist militants and disaffected youth in neglected iregions in the country.
The Ennhada led government is reluctant to take action against them because of the repression the suffered during the Ben Ali regime and government spokesmen have argued that it is better to avoid taking action which might make them seem martyrs.
However such violent action against civil order calls for a respose to protect citizens including women from this thuggery. The majority of the Tunisian people are now asking their government to enforce the law.
"The law will be applied. These incidents are dangerous and will be dealt with in the appropriate manner," secretary of state for the interior Said Mechichi told TAP.
200 Salafis reacted violently to the arrest on Friday of a fellow Muslim adhering to their brand of Islam. They threw Molotov cocktails and stones at Jendouba’s national security headquarters, their numbers growing to some 500 as they moved to the center of town. They set fire to the police station and pillaged bars and stores where alcohol was sold en route , some calling for a holy war, TAP reported.
As police used tear gas, soldiers took up positions outside public buildings. The Salafis eventually took refuge in a mosque,TAP said.
Last week Tunisia's Justice Minister Noureddine Bheiri threatened to punish those who use violence to impose their views on others after Salafists forced a number of bars to close.
"Will the government be disarmed by the Salafists?" asked Le Temps, pointing to the "yawning gap between the speeches and the actions."
La Presse, headlined its Sunday edition "the state challenged", referring to the "laxness of the authorities."
"Violent groups which are outside the law propagate terror," said the head of the Tunisian League of Human Rights, Abdessatar Ben Moussa.
They "physically and morally attack women, intellectuals, journalists, designers, unionists, politicians as well as human rights activists," he said.
Tourism Minister Elies Fakhfakh meanwhile warned last week of the "wrong and aggressive image" generated by the Salafists.
Salafist violence in Tunisia has been a problem since the revolution in both cities and out lying areas. It is estimated that there are 10,000 Salafists in the total Tunisian population of over ten million, however they are having an effect which goes far beyond their numbers . Violence in Sidi Bouzid the town where the revolution started points to a dangerous correlation between salafist militants and disaffected youth in neglected iregions in the country.
The Ennhada led government is reluctant to take action against them because of the repression the suffered during the Ben Ali regime and government spokesmen have argued that it is better to avoid taking action which might make them seem martyrs.
However such violent action against civil order calls for a respose to protect citizens including women from this thuggery. The majority of the Tunisian people are now asking their government to enforce the law.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Salafists-conti...