Tunisia: Salafists block comedian’s show at Menzel Bourguiba
The show "100 per cent Halal" with the comedian and actor Lotfi Abdelli was cancelled on Tuesday night at Menzel Bourguiba (governorate of Bizerte) after extensive mobilization of Salafist groups which started in the afternoon
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tunisia-Salafis...
“The attack by people associated with the Salafist movement on the Bayrem Ettounsi cultural center in the town of Menzel Bourguiba” prevented Lotfi’s show “100% Halal” from taking place, the ministry said in a statement, TAP reported.
“This type of activity amounts to an attack on freedom of expression and a dangerous threat to cultural rights,” it said, adding that the relevant authorities had filed a judicial complaint.
According to the protesters, the show sought undermine Islam and the sacred, it is "evil", mocked the Qur'an and hadith of the Prophet and it is inconceivable that it should be performed this holy "night of sacred" eve of Ramadan 27.
A Salafist mobilized to prevent the show there was be no violence, and salafists said spread their prayer mats and prayed and ecited the Koran at the venue.
Lotfi Abdelli said he was threatened with death by the Imam indicating that the region would have encouraged people to boycott and ban his show claiming that the show violated Islam through the expression "100 gram Sobhan Allah ".
Lotfi Abdelli challenged the Imam emphasizing that he never used the same expression in his shows.
On the other hand, the festival director of Menzel Bourguiba, Fradj Hamdi noted the total absence of law enforcement, whereas the area delegate had decided to cancel the show.
The tension between Salafists and the right of Tunisian artists, who played an important role during the revolution against former President Ben Ali , to free expression, continues,
“This type of activity amounts to an attack on freedom of expression and a dangerous threat to cultural rights,” it said, adding that the relevant authorities had filed a judicial complaint.
According to the protesters, the show sought undermine Islam and the sacred, it is "evil", mocked the Qur'an and hadith of the Prophet and it is inconceivable that it should be performed this holy "night of sacred" eve of Ramadan 27.
A Salafist mobilized to prevent the show there was be no violence, and salafists said spread their prayer mats and prayed and ecited the Koran at the venue.
Lotfi Abdelli said he was threatened with death by the Imam indicating that the region would have encouraged people to boycott and ban his show claiming that the show violated Islam through the expression "100 gram Sobhan Allah ".
Lotfi Abdelli challenged the Imam emphasizing that he never used the same expression in his shows.
On the other hand, the festival director of Menzel Bourguiba, Fradj Hamdi noted the total absence of law enforcement, whereas the area delegate had decided to cancel the show.
The tension between Salafists and the right of Tunisian artists, who played an important role during the revolution against former President Ben Ali , to free expression, continues,
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tunisia-Salafis...