The assassination of Chokri Belaid—a prominent leftist opposition politician and head of the National Democratic Party— on February 6, 2013, sent shock waves across Tunisia and around the world. Yet the courage and strong nerves of his wife, Basma Khalafawy Belaid, have given hope to thousands of her late husband’s supporters, who have witnessed her defiant expression on the front of newspapers. She is even known as “The First Lady of Tunisia,” on social networking pages paying her tribute.

The assassination of Chokri Belaid—a prominent leftist opposition politician and head of the National Democratic Party— on February 6, 2013, sent shock waves across Tunisia and around the world. Yet the courage and strong nerves of his wife, Basma Khalafawy Belaid, have given hope to thousands of her late husband’s supporters, who have witnessed her defiant expression on the front of newspapers. She is even known as “The First Lady of Tunisia,” on social networking pages paying her tribute.

Basma Belaid surprised the nation at her husband’s funeral by not accepting condolences but by offering them to well-wishers and supporters.  And instead of wearing black to show mourning, Belaid arrived to the funeral procession in a pink coat and walked alongside the hearse to make room for others in attendance. When Chokri Belaid’s casket was lowered into the ground, the recent widow cheered in a manner common at weddings and the funerals of martyrs.

Ms. Belaid, this must be a very difficult moment for you?

Yes, it is the hardest moment in a person’s life, but I will have plenty of time later to grieve and exercise every ritual of death. But today, the nation needs us because we are moving along an unclear path. What happened did not occur during a time of tyranny, but unfortunately, in a period marked by freedom, for which we fought in the revolution.

You have vowed to your opponents and to your husband’s killers that you will respond to his murder, but not in their way.  How will you respond?

I do not believe in violence and Chokri was assassinated for his ideas.  I want his ideas to live on so I will not resort to the means of his enemies; I will triumph over them.

Although there has been no conclusive evidence, you hold Ennahda responsible for your late husband’s death?

Yes, I did accuse Ennahda of assassinating my husband and I will file a lawsuit against its leader Rashid Ghannouchi.  I personally think Ghannouci is the protector of violence in Tunisia. For example, his party ignored Imams who called for my husband’s blood in their sermons; Imams who belong to Ennahda.  Another example is the continuance of protection associations despite demands by NGOs to dismantle them, as they are responsible for political violence.

You have asked the Interior Ministry to protect you and your family. Do you believe that your family will be targeted?

First, I am now solely responsible for my daughters. Second, advocates of violence and chaos didn’t respect even the funeral so I do not feel reassured in a situation like this. We have lived with constant threats in the past, (phone and e-mail) and my husband refused protection, for example he did not wear a bullet proof vest. But today, the situation is different and I must protect my family.

After your late husband’s funeral you said you were optimistic.  Yet how can you be optimistic when this government, even after a year and a half, is incapable of drafting a constitution?

I felt optimistic when hundreds of thousands of citizens from different social strata spontaneously came out to express their rejection of violence. I was optimistic that the blood of my husband was not shed in vain and that the democratic forces were united with modernist ones. I am optimistic that the Tunisian people do not accept the violence and extreme dark forces that threaten our goals.

Why did you attend a march in front of the Constituent Assembly and demand that the government resign?

This government has failed and should resign based on our laws. I finally went to the Shura Council because I feel that the ruling authorities have moved too slowly in dealing with the assassination.

Do you plan on playing a political role in the future, and do you intend to succeed your husband as head of the National Democratic Party?

I was not in the party until about a month ago, since joining the feminist organization affiliated with the National Democratic Party. I did not want a position in the party, but today the situation is different and I think it is my duty to continue on the path initiated by Chokri. It does not matter if I’m in a position of leadership or not. It is also not my decision, rather that of the party’s.