The National Constituent Assembly (NCA), Tunisia’s parliament, launched the Truth and Dignity Commission (TDC) in 2014, to investigate human rights violations that occurred during the Ben Ali era and earlier. The National Constituent Assembly (NCA), Tunisia’s parliament, launched the Truth and Dignity Commission (TDC) in 2014, to investigate human rights violations that occurred during the […]

As the unemployment rate soars, Tunisians have resorted to traveling to Libya in search of work.  But their dreams quickly turn into nightmares when they are threatened with kidnapping or murder by armed factions in Libya. A few months ago, Hatem Qasri traveled to Benghazi to work at a steel plant, in hopes of saving […]

Ibrahim Kassas went from being a taxi driver who could make his customers laugh to a brief stint as a Member of Parliament.  Disillusioned by government, Kassas says the world of politics is like a comedy school and politicians are the greatest actors. Having learned from the best, he is now trying his hand at […]

Amin Shetawi and his best friend, Nabil Abidi used to go out for drinks and occasionally did drugs together.  They even dreamed about one day travelling to Italy. His friend Abidi, however, was no angel — in fact he stole money and sold drugs.  He had a long criminal record in which he was classified […]

Saliha worryingly awaits the destiny of her son who was sentenced to death on April 30 on terrorism charges. She has repeatedly contacted the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Iraqi Embassy in Tunisia in hopes that her son being tried in Tunisia. Lawyers have expressed their willingness to travel to Iraq to appeal […]

That last thing Safa expected while shopping in the city center for her trousseaux was to be harassed by government security officers. The 23-year-old says she was inspected and humiliated because she was wearing a niqab. More women like Safa have come under suspician since terrorists have resorted to using the full body cloak. The […]

Rashed Ghannouchi, head of the Islamic Ennahda Movement, openly addressed several sensitive issues including the niqab, homosexuality and the government’s performance in this exclusive interview. Rashed Ghannouchi, your latest positions have provoked great controversy, particularly your opposition to criminalizing homosexuality, which is forbidden in Islam. Do you still adopt this position? Rashed Ghannouchi, head of […]

Mohamed Naser, Head of Parliament and acting chairman of Nidaa Tunis Movement which leads the governmening coalition, stressed that he will not allow passing laws which open the door to the return of despotism. Nesser said the parliament is planning to questions the government after 100 days of work, and he underlined that he will […]

In October 2000, Ramzi Waslati did not expect that a report about the status of rural women in Tunisia would turn his life upside down and lock him up for well over a decade. At that time, as an employee at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Waslati had been asked to prepare an official report […]

Hundreds of Tunisians stood in queues near metal detectors before entering the Tunis International Book Fair (TIBF), held from March 27 – April 5. Their smiles showed no signs of boredom from the long wait and no complaining about the strict security measures imposed by the TIBF management. Ashraf Sehili, 32, was looking for extremist […]