#MeToo

On November 10, the Tunisian #MeToo movement was resuscitated, this time inside the Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Politiques et Sociales of Tunis, with reports of sexual harassment, and at fault appears to be the same student. Feminist associations are working on bringing out the obstructed or “forgotten” complaints to justice.

Being away from Tunisia makes it hard to keep up with the societal, political and economic turmoil. But there’s a wind of change that people are feeling, a certain revival of the hope of a decade ago on many fronts.

From the 25 demonstrations and the suspension of the parliament, to the appointment of the first female prime minister in the Arab world, it seems that Tunisia never fails to surprise us. Ever since Tunisia was labeled as the exception, expectations have been high. After President Kais Said’s decision to suspend the parliament, many Western journals were naively quick to write, “Tunisians don’t want democracy,” along with many other orientalist statements. However, despite the tremendous support that the president’s actions have received, it is not safe to say that supporters carry the same intensity today. In fact, when the president prolonged the suspension of the parliament and acquired more executive power, 2,000 people demonstrated on September 26 to show their discontent, and to assert their attachment to the 2014 Constitution.

Everybody knows what is at stake, how easily the situation can spiral. But Tunisians are being patient, hopeful, and most certainly disillusioned by the way democracy has been working — they are waiting for its renovation, not its dismantlement. Tunisians have come a long way since the 2011 revolution. The country’s economy has overcome the destabilizing terrorist attacks that had temporarily put down its tourism. After the death of late President Beji Caid Essebsi, there was a peaceful transition. Today, Tunisians have gained a lot of knowledge about what is happening on the political and economic scene. Civil society is stronger than ever. Women are standing up to their aggressors. People protested against the actions of the president, and Tunisians are awake. They do not incur a political system in silence, and will not step down any time soon from their rights, as they know how far they have come.

Tunisia is still in construction, nothing is a given, and every day is a struggle, but there is so much to be done that there is no going back.

- Nour Cherif x BABEL