The Arab Spring has spawned terrible twins: terrorism and extremism. As Islamist radicals try to hijack the quest for freedom and democracy all over North Africa, another country seems to have succumbed to violence and religious fanaticism.
Tunisia has had a very bumpy track after their revolution, much like the one followed by Egypt. An Islamist government quickly seized an opportunity through the uncertainty that followed the revolution and installed more and more of their own. Six months ago a secular politician, Chokri Belaid was shot dead, prompting street violence.
Now a second moderate politician, who pinned himself against the Islamist government, was shot dead outside his home in the capital of Tunis this morning. He was shot dead in front of his disabled daughter.
A mass protest immediately clogged the streets.
This latest violence can be reconducted in part to Brahmi's killing. Brahmi in fact was not only vehemently opposed to the Islamist's power grab, but was also encharged with drafting the new constitution.
A twin demonstration soon started to appear in the streets of Sidi Bouzid, the city in which Brahmi was gunned down.
People have blocked road and set afire a few things. The sentiment is very dark. Those who had fought for the revolution do not want to return to a tyrannical form of government.
Tunisia in fact, was a success story at the beginning. The only place where the revolution had not fallen into sectarian violence and bloodshed. It had been taken as a model, especially vis a vis Syria and Egypt.
The people now seem to be re-energized by Egypt's refusal to succumb to an Islamist power grab, and by the new violence against the opposition.
Source : France 24/ 7.25.13
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