Catch and Release: Tunisia’s Hypocritical Justice System | Amira Yahyaoui
▻http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amira-yahyaoui/catch-and-release-tunisia_b_3606518.html
First, one cannot help but notice a pattern. Each case deals with a young Tunisian accused of threatening the public order by acting immorally. By accusing the youth of immorality for merely expressing their views, the Tunisian justice system seems suddenly to have slipped back into old habits. How little things change.
More surprisingly though, public support for the youth is anything but strong and systematic. While civil society vocally calls for Alaa’s release in the name of freedom of speech, support for Jabeur and Amina is relatively scarce. In Tunisia, there are topics more worthy of freedom of speech than others - or so it seems. Atheism and women’s’ rights to their bodies apparently don’t fall into that category. Tunisia’s democratic struggle ought to enjoy uniform, principles. Only support based on universal rights will bring about real freedom of speech.
Lastly, these cases illustrate the cowardliness of the Tunisian justice system. Law is influenced by both politics and public opinion rather than impartial rules that govern the entire nation.