In the riots, which began at the end of November, several hundred people have been wounded in Tunisia to date. In the province of Siliana in the north of the country, the police waged several days of street fighting against trade unionists, in which more than 300 people were injured. Members of the UGTT trade union association started demonstrations because of the poor social situation and police brutality in the country.
On December 4 this year, radical Islamists attacked the participants of a rally organized by the UGTT trade union association and beat many of the participants. The situation is tense in other parts of the country as well. Two years after the start of the Arab Spring (December 17.12.2010, XNUMX), there is still no peace.
Then the reason for the unrest, which quickly spread throughout the country, was the self-immolation of a shopkeeper in Sidi Bouzid. Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire because the police demolished his fruit and vegetable stand for which he did not have a permit.
After the news of Bouaziz's self-immolation was published in the media, Tunisians in many cities expressed dissatisfaction with police brutality, lack of perspective and corruption in the country.
The protests in Tunisia that marked the beginning of the Arab Spring quickly spread to other Arab countries. President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali fled the country in early 2011. It was the beginning of the painstaking process of creating a new political order. After the elections held in October last year, the Islamist party Enhada became the strongest political force.
A divided society
Since then, society in Tunisia has become increasingly polarized. The Enhad party and the Salafists want Islam to play a greater role in politics and society. This raises concerns among those who are not religiously committed. Their interests and ideas are represented by several parties and the very influential trade union UGTT.
"The division of society in Tunisia is becoming more and more apparent, you are forced to be on one side or the other. The situation is getting worse," says William Lawrence, head of the International Crisis Group's North Africa office.
And Radouan Masmoudi, head of the Center for Islam and Democracy in Washington and Tunisia, also noticed the growing gap between these two camps.
"People are afraid of each other. The fear is partly justified. Islamists have been oppressed and persecuted for decades. Secular Tunisians are afraid that now their country could be Islamized according to the Iranian or Saudi model. I think the solution lies in dialogue and finding a consensus," he believes. Raduan Masmudi.
The economic crisis remains a problem
The economic situation in Tunisia is much more problematic than the current social conflict. High unemployment and anger over dictatorship and nepotism were the reasons why hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets two years ago. In addition to freedom and dignity, the demonstrators also demanded jobs.
The main initiator of the rebellion were young people, university graduates, who had little chance of employment. However, their situation is not much better even today. Distrust in politicians and authorities remained.
"The main reason for the revolution was corruption and it's still not clear if it has been reduced," says Crisis Group analyst William Lawrence.
Tunisia needs international help to revive its economy. Lawrence and Masmudi think that the Europeans should help the most. Many foreign companies have left the country.
"They left for legitimate reasons. Unrest, strikes, violence. Now those companies have to go back to Tunisia," says Lawrence.
However, for foreign investments, it is necessary to establish a favorable climate. Fundamental structural reforms are necessary. Masmudi is convinced that stability and prosperity in Tunisia are also in the interest of Europeans.
"Tunisia can be a model for other countries such as Libya and Egypt for the path to true democracy. Europe should help Tunisia in the same way as it did in Eastern Europe after the collapse of the Soviet Union," says Masmoudi.
A conversation between Julian Assange and Mozef Marzouki, the first leader of Tunisia after the Arab Spring
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