Tunisia
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Interview with the Tunisian Theatre Director Meriam Bousselmi
Fear of Religious Fanatics
The young Tunisian lawyer, dramatist and director, Meriam Bousselmi, was born in Tunis, where she still lives, in 1983. She's currently making a name for herself with sharp, critical works for the theatre, such as her latest production, "Sabra". She spoke to Suleman Taufiq
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Interview with the Tunisian Feminist Saloua Guiga
Two Societal Projects on Collision Course
In this interview with Martina Sabra, the chairwoman of the Coalition for Women of Tunisia (Coalition Pour les Femmes de Tunisie), Saloua Guiga, tells of the Islamists' poor understanding of democracy and the precarious situation for women in her country
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Essay by Nawaf Obaid
The Collapsing Arab State
The Arab Spring has toppled some regimes, though not others. But, more important, everywhere in the Arab world – and beyond – it has called into question the viability of the nation-state. An essay by Nawaf Obaid
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Women Muslims Outraged by Femen Action
Exposing Misunderstandings
With their "Topless Jihad Day", Femen activists wanted to demonstrate for the rights of Muslim women. The problem is that Muslim women see no need for protest. "Nudity does not free us" was their answer in an online campaign. Femen activists, in turn, diagnose Muslim women as suffering from Stockholm syndrome. By Nadia Pantel
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Islamists Target Tunisia's Universities
Freedom under Threat
When Tunisians revolted against the Ben Ali regime in January 2011, the protesters were joined by many university lecturers and academics hoping to see an end to censorship. But this newly-won freedom for research and tuition in Tunisia again finds itself under threat today. Martina Sabra reports
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Interview with Amel Grami
Political Stagnation in the Cradle of the Arab Spring
Tunisia's process of democratic transition has been stagnating since late 2012. The Tunisian people are still waiting for their new constitution. The situation has been exacerbated by the recent murder of opposition politician Chokri Belaid. Ute Schaeffer and Loay Mudhoon spoke to the renowned academic Amel Grami about Tunisia's political crisis
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Interview with Moncef Marzouki
''We Don't Have a Magic Wand''
Ahead of his visit to Germany, Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki told Sarah Mersch that his country could take a leaf out of Europe's book as it struggles with the transition to democracy and that Tunisia would welcome help from Germany in a number of areas
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Tunisia's New Interim Government
Looking for a New Beginning
New jobs, discipline and national unity - according to Tunisia's new head of government, Ali Larayedh, this is what the country needs. But time is quickly running out. Ute Schaeffer reports from Tunis
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Islamism and Secularism after the Arab Spring
Muslim's Multiple Modernities
For Muslim societies, the way to democracy will inevitably involve religious politics, says Nader Hashemi in his essay. And for historical reasons, he argues, Muslim societies will develop different concepts of democracy than the ones common in the West
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Essay by Amel Grami
A Turning Point in Tunisia's Transition
According to the renowned Tunisian academic and intellectual Amel Grami, the two-pronged policy being pursued by the Islamist Ennahda party under the leadership of Rachid Ghannouchi threatens to split Tunisian society in two and push the revolution to the brink of the abyss
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Tunisia's Government in Crisis
A Political Earthquake
The murder of the leftist politician Chokri Belaid has plunged the nation's already beleaguered government into deep crisis. In particular Ennahda, the strongest party in the coalition, now has its back to the wall. Sarah Mersch reports from Tunis
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After the Assassination of Chokri Belaid
Searching for the Ringleaders
The Leagues for the Protection of the Revolution are considered to be the prime suspects in the case of the assassination of the well-known Tunisian opposition politician Chokri Belaid. However, it is also possible that Salafists or networks of members of the security forces from the Ben Ali era could also be responsible for the attack. Beat Stauffer reports