Tunisia
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Emancipation and music
Black Tunisiansʹ bitter heritage
In the south-eastern Tunisian region of Medenine, music represented a socially marginalised way for post-emancipation blacks to advance. These days thatʹs not enough to satisfy the younger generation. By Marta Scaglioni
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Aicha 'Lella Saida' Manoubiya
Tunisia's feminist icon
A free spirit who did not abide by the constraints imposed on women in the thirteenth century, Sufi saint Aicha Manoubiya, known as Saida or Lella Saida, holds a special place in the memories and hearts of the people of Tunis. By Safa Belghith
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Tunisʹ first female mayor
Abderrahim runs the gauntlet for Tunisian women
While most residents of Tunis support a woman as mayor, a sizeable minority does not, which may present obstacles for the newly-elected Souad Abderrahim. By Sharan Grewal and Matthew Cebul
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Alternative tourism in Tunisia
Off the beaten tourist track
Demand for the classic Tunisian beach package holiday has slumped as a result of unrest in the wake of the Arab Spring and direct attacks on foreign tourists in recent years. Nevertheless, a small but growing number of local entrepreneurs are pursuing alternatives to the all-inclusive cheap deal, offering experiences that bring visitors closer to the country and its people – and that are kinder to the environment. By Madeleine Löning
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Urban development in Tunisia
Keeping the speculators out of Tunis
While there is a gradual reawakening of interest among the inhabitants of the Tunisian capital in their historical old town, the cityʹs colonial districts are at risk of falling prey to property speculators. Sarah Mersch on the development of Tunis
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"Future Lab Tunisia"
It all comes down to music
The idea of becoming a musician was beyond the wildest dreams of the children at one Tunisian school. Until, that is, "Future Lab Tunisia" arrived – and with it the realisation that dreams might just come true. By Myriel Desgranges
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The right not to fast during Ramadan
Tunisians call on the Constitution
Tunisiaʹs Constitution of 2014 may guarantee freedom of conscience and belief, but the country has not resolved the debate surrounding the non-observance of Ramadan in public. Ismail Dbara reports from Tunis
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Islamic inheritance law in Morocco and Tunisia
Feminist Asma Lamrabet under pressure
Conservatives in Morocco have forced the Islamic feminist Asma Lamrabet to relinquish her post at the Centre d'Etudes Feminines en Islam in Rabat. A debate on discrimination against women in Islamic inheritance law sparked the conflict, fuelled in part by a draft amendment in Tunisia that would institute an egalitarian law of inheritance there. By Claudia Mende
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Tunisia: The troglodyte dwellings of Matmata
The Berber village Matmata in southern Tunisia is famous for its quaint underground houses and cave dwellings, which are pleasantly cool in summer and comfortably warm in winter.
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EU and the Maghreb
Fair trade for a level playing field
To mitigate the root causes of flight and migration, Germanyʹs federal government is contemplating fair-trade agreements with refugee countries of origin. The North African experience shows this will require a re-think of EU policy. By Nassir Djafari
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Rights for the disabled in Tunisia
Inching towards inclusion
Intuition plays an important role in the life of Yassine Rihani. The 34-year-old Tunisian lost his eyesight in 2006 and has been working as a physiotherapist ever since. As a human rights activist, he also has a feel for the pressure points in society and works to promote the rights of people with disabilities. By Wolfgang Kuhnle
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Critical Koran edition "Al-Mushaf wa Qiraʹatuh"
The Koran – and its variants?
For many years, progressive Islamic thinkers have been calling for people to read and understand the Koran in the context of the period in which it was written. Now, for the first time, Tunisian Islamic scholar Abdelmajid Charfi has put together a critical historical edition. By Annette Steinich