Tunisia: Unrest After Film Shown, Dozens Arrested
By MISNA
In a statement released Monday, Tunisia’s Religious Affairs ministry expressed regret over the unrest yesterday in some areas of Tunis after the airing of the film ‘Persepolis’ by the private ’Nessma’ TV channel.
A mob of angry Salafists clashed with police and attempted to storm the offices of the TV network. The TAP news agency reports that after thwarting the attack, police arrested dozens of people.
Condemning all forms of violence, the Religious Affairs ministry also urged TV networks, radios and newspapers to respect all faiths and anything considered sacred as to “preserve social peace and facilitate the democratic transition underway”. The unrest comes a few days ahead of the Constituent Assembly election set for October 23.
‘Persepolis’ is a 2007 internationally-acclaimed French-Iranian animation feature film about the 1979 Iranian revolution, seen through the eyes of a little girl, Marjane Satrapi, who is also the producer of the film, and who at the age of 22 leaves her country to live abroad.
Beginning with the great hopes that accompanied the revolution, the film is very critical of the regime of the Ayatollahs.
