Zwewla is the name chosen by some graffitists in Tunisia, which in Tunisian dialect translates as needy or simple.  Recently, two Zwewla youth have been prosecuted on charges of graffitists, violating emergency law, and publishing false news that would disturb public order.  Osama Bu’ejelah, one of the accused:

You and your colleagues are accused of violating the Emergency Law and disturbing public order. How do you respond?

Zwewla is the name chosen by some graffitists in Tunisia, which in Tunisian dialect translates as needy or simple.  Recently, two Zwewla youth have been prosecuted on charges of graffitists, violating emergency law, and publishing false news that would disturb public order.  Osama Bu’ejelah, one of the accused:

You and your colleagues are accused of violating the Emergency Law and disturbing public order. How do you respond?

They are vexatious charges. We did not violate the Emergency Law because while we were putting graffiti on the institution’s wall, a private wedding was going on and the street was full of pedestrians. For the charge of graffiti, we did not write anything; rather, we practiced a type of art permitted in many countries; thus, it cannot be criminalized. As for the charge of publishing false news and disturbing public order, we have promoted nothing; we have only demanded Zwewla’s rights. In addition to their artistic value, our drawings are popular in the Tunisian street, which we keep noticing through the comments of the passersby who say they express their concerns.

Many people and organizations have supported you. How have you managed to call all of them and get their support in such a short period?

We have had support from several organizations and societies, such as IFEX, Human Rights League, Amnesty International and Fine Arts Professions Syndicate as well as a large number of artists and human rights activists. As for how we have got their support, I would say that our cause is just and our country is witnessing an attack on freedom of expression, which explains why all organizations, societies and inventors are on high alert to defend free speech. I myself was amazed when supporters flocked to support us and Zwewla‘s cause.

Your case has been adjourned until the January 23, 2013. What is your comment?

I do not think the decision will be politicized as many of my friends believe. I do believe in the integrity of the Tunisian judiciary and in the legitimacy of the work we have done, and I think that the court will declare me innocent for I knew not what I was doing. The adjourning decision has not confused me and I will continue what I was doing.

Why have you chosen this form of expression?

First of all, it is a hobby, and we also express ourselves and our attitudes through this graffiti and try to present the real problems of the country, despite the politicians’ attempts to confine them to simply ideological conflicts.

Aren’t there other ways to express yourselves, such as political or associative activities or blogs?

All these methods did not succeed in demonstrating our real problems. Parties are governed by ideological controls that sometimes blind members, making them unable to see facts.  Associations are related to a specific field and are mostly far away from citizens’ daily concerns.  Blogs address one type of audience, which is not the one we wish to address. This is why we do graffiti so that as large number of people as possible can peruse our thoughts, free of charge. In a nutshell, we trust walls more than we trust politicians.

But you do know that painting walls is trespassing on others’ property, do you not?

We know that very well. This is why we do graffiti on walls of public institutions only and we also do not use obscene or indecent expressions.

Did you get the approval of the institution’s management before drawing graffiti on its walls?

We believe that graffiti on walls of public institutions is no crime and cannot be described as a mistake.  Some use them for unlicensed commercial ads while we try to exploit them to communicate our art to the public. Besides, it is the only way to have our voices heard. We wonder why this type of art is not legalized as a way to promote freedom of expression.