#public transport tunis

[sa7abnews]

Who is Kamel Madouri, Tunisia's new PM?

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/11/who-is-kamel-madouri-tunisias-new-pm/

Who is Kamel Madouri, Tunisia's new PM?

Tunisian President Kais Saied has once again dismissed the country’s prime minister without offering any official explanation, as he scrambles to regain popularity ahead of a crucial presidential election in just two months.

On the evening of Wednesday, 7 August, President Saied announced the removal of Ahmed Hachani from his position as head of government. The statement from the Tunisian presidency provided no official reason for this decision.

Earlier that day, Hachani had published two videos discussing measures taken to address the water shortage and the difficult state of public transport. Last month, Saied blamed the shortage on “criminal organisations targeting the state’s stability.”

Hachani replaced Najla Bouden as prime minister last August, who was also dismissed without official justification.

His successor, appointed on the same night, is Kamel Madouri, who has been serving as the Minister of Social Affairs since May.

Who is Madouri, Tunisia’s new Prime Minister?

Born in 1974, Kamel Madouri holds a PhD in European Community Law and Maghreb-European Relations, as well as a Master’s in Legal Sciences from Tunis University.

An expert in Community Law, institutional law, international relations, and EU policies, he has been a permanent member of various Tunisian-foreign social security joint commissions.

Before venturing into politics, Madouri was the CEO of the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) and the National Retirement and Social Security Fund (CNRPS).

In addition to his administrative roles, Madouri has lectured at the National School of Administration and the Higher School of Internal Security Forces.

He has authored several publications on social security coordination under association agreements, reforms in health insurance and pensions, and social protection for migrant workers—Given Saied’s infamous anti-migrant policies, Madouri may find himself at odds with the president sooner than his predecessors.

Rollback of human rights under Saied

Elected in 2019, Saied consolidated power in July 2021 by dismissing his then-prime minister, and suspending and dissolving the Parliament. His critics have accused him of staging a coup against democracy.

In 2022, he revised the constitution to establish a hyper-presidential regime and elected a new Parliament with very limited powers. He is now seeking a second term.

On Monday, 5 August, Saied, 66, officially submitted his candidacy for the presidential election scheduled for 7 October. Meanwhile, potential challengers are being barred from running, including through prosecution, imprisonment, and bureaucratic obstacles.

Last month, Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard expressed alarm over the rollback of human rights in Tunisia. During a four-day visit to Tunis, she noted “arbitrary detentions” of opponents, “restrictions and prosecutions” against certain candidates, and the imprisonment of journalists.

“People who have not yet been directly affected told me they fear that their freedom could be curtailed at any time,” she wrote.

In response to criticism, Saied dismissed accusations of targeting his opponents, asserting that “the law applies equally to everyone”.

Since February 2023, more than twenty prominent politicians, businesspeople, and journalists have been detained in an investigation into an alleged conspiracy against the state and Saied. The Tunisian president described those arrested as “terrorists.” 

[toutmontbeliard-com]

Le 19, CRAC Montbéliard : programme d'avril 2024

Voici le programme du 19, Centre Régional d’Art contemporain, de Montbéliard d'avril 2024 : Cum Panis : le pain et ses écologies Une exposition collective, du 10 février 2024 au 5 mai 2024 au 19, Crac Co-curatrices : Grace Gloria Denis et Adeline Lépine Avec des œuvres de : Amanny Ahmad, Broudou Magazine, Grace Gloria Denis, Ymane Fakhir, Sameer Farooq, Anna Bella Geiger, Alison Knowles, Valeria Mata, Gordon Matta-Clark, Julia Morlot, Claude Ponti, Lúcia Prancha, Marie Preston, Lexie Smith et Louise Johansson Waite. Avec des objets issus des collections du Musée de Grenoble et du Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation de Besançon. Une exposition collective rassemblant des pratiques artistiques internationales à propos du pain, de ses écologies et de ses effets sociaux, politiques, économiques, culturels et esthétiques. Dernière visite commentée de l'exposition le dimanche 7 avril à 15h30. Entrée libre. Dans le cadre de Pays d’Agglomération de Montbéliard Capitale Française de la Culture 2024. Avec le soutien du Centre Culturel Canadien et de l'Institut Français à Tunis. ADOS - ATELIER POV : mercredi 10 avril 2024 de 14h30 à 16h30 Tu sais pitcher une anecdote en 3 minutes et tu te sens l’âme d’un·e critique d’art ? À l’image d’un vrai journaliste, viens découvrir le pain et son histoire sous ses aspects même les plus extravagants et donne-nous TON point de vue sur l’exposition Cum Panis. Atelier d’analyse critique à partir de 14 ans. Entrée libre. CLUB DU LEVAIN : samedis 13 et 27 avril 2024 à partir de 16h00 Participez à la constitution d’une bibliothèque de levain. Déposez, échangez, nourrissez, dégustez les levains et mettez la main à la pâte lors de rencontres organisées deux samedis par mois avec les artistes et médiateurs de l’exposition. Basés sur la libre initiative, l’échange et le partage d’expériences, ces temps conviviaux sont ouverts à toutes et tous, petits et grands, boulangers aguerris ou amateurs. Samedi 13 avril 2024 : l'artiste de l'exposition Sameer Farooq proposera une présentation de son travail et de ses recherches autour des pains plats dans les pays utilisant des fours tandoor. Entrée libre. VISITE EN FAMILLE : samedi 6 avril 2024 de 16h00 à 17h30 C’est une catastrophe ! Ne pouvant résister à sa gourmandise, Tadoramour a dévoré la baguette magique d’Isée. Pour remédier à ce problème aidons Tadoramour à préparer une nouvelle baguette en retrouvant sa recette oubliée. Résolvons ensemble les énigmes du 19 et retrouvons les ingrédients essentiels à la préparation d’une bonne baguette magique ! Gratuit, réservation au 03 81 94 13 47 ou mediation@le19crac.com STAGE VACANCES : Bienvenue au Pain Palace ! Du mardi 16 avril 2024 au vendredi 19 avril 2024 , 14h00-17h00 Pendant les vacances, c’est toi l’artiste ! À l’occasion de sa nouvelle exposition consacrée au pain, le 19 ouvre son tout nouveau restaurant, le Pain Palace ! Pour cela, nous avons besoin de ton aide. De la création de son enseigne à l’élaboration d’un menu hautement créatif nous t’invitons à rejoindre cette nouvelle aventure et convier ta famille pour une performance culinaire originale en fin de semaine. Atelier arts plastiques pour les 7-12 ans, tarif 30 €. Sur réservation au 03 81 94 13 47 ou mediation@le19crac.com. BUS TOUR TRAC* spécial familles : samedi 20 avril 2024 de 14h00 à 18h00 Le Bus Tour TRAC* (Tiny réseau d’art contemporain de l’axe Belfort-Montbéliard) reprend du service avec un circuit spécial familles : visites d’expositions, rencontre d’artiste et propositions ludiques adaptées au jeune public au 19, Crac, à l’École d'art de Belfort et à l'Espace multimédia Gantner (visites ludiques et jeu de piste - à partir de 6 ans), le tout en transport en commun. Réservation par mail à contact@seizemille.com ou en cliquant ici. Départ 13h00 de Besançon et retour à 19h00 ou départ 14h00 de Montbéliard et retour à 18hOO. infos > 03 81 94 13 47 ou mediation@le19crac.com ou www.le19crac.com Read the full article

[pinksoultyphoon]

President Kais Saied says ‘hordes’ of sub-Saharan migrants are causing crime and pose a demographic threat to the North African country, leading to accusations of racism and demonstrations.Hundreds of people have protested on the streets of the Tunisian capital to denounce President Kais Saied, accusing him of racist comments and hate speech against refugees. The demonstrators marched on Saturday to denounce racism and demand that the president apologise for his remarks, which included claims of a plot to erase Tunisia’s identity by overrunning it with sub-Saharan Africans. As the situation becomes tenser and riskier for sub-Saharan Africans in Tunisia, AFP reported on Saturday that Ivorians were heading to their embassy in Tunis to ask for help leaving the country. Here is what you need to know about the protests: Who are the sub-Saharan people living in Tunisia? Tunisia is a key departure point for refugees trying to reach Europe on what the United Nations says is the world’s deadliest migration route. The country lies about 130km (80 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa at its closest point. More than 21,000 sub-Saharan Africans live in Tunisia, including those with student visas and other legal residencies, according to the FTDES advocacy group, which cited official figures. Many people from Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea and the Ivory Coast work in poorly paid, informal jobs to get by and save up for attempts to reach Italy. Ivorians wait outside the Ivory Coast’s embassy in Tunis for their repatriation to Abidjan on February 24, 2023 [Fethi Belaid/AFP] What did Saied say? At a meeting of the National Security Council on Tuesday, Saied said “hordes” of sub-Saharan migrants were causing crime and posed a demographic threat to Tunisia. He said “urgent measures” were needed to address the entry of people from sub-Saharan countries, accusing them of “violence” and “crimes”. “The undeclared goal of the successive waves of illegal immigration is to consider Tunisia a purely African country that has no affiliation to the Arab and Islamic nations,” Saied claimed. He alleged that unnamed parties had settled sub-Saharan Africans in Tunisia over the past decade in return for money, according to comments published by the presidency online. Dozens of sub-Saharan Africans have been arrested this month in a major crackdown. What has the reaction been in Tunisia? The protesters on Saturday denounced Saied’s comments and the actions taken against migrants by authorities. “Down with fascism, Tunisia is an African country,” they chanted. “President of shame, apologise,” they demanded. Artists, human rights activists and members of civil society groups took part in the rally. Romdhane Ben Amor, a spokesperson for the Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights, said the number of racist assaults against sub-Saharan Africans had increased after Saied’s remarks. Hundreds of people took part in the protests on February 25, 2023 [Jihed Abidellaoui/Reuters] “We noted attempts to drive some migrants out of their homes,” he told AP news agency. “Others are being prevented from taking public transportation.” Tunisian comedian Fatma Saidane denounced “deplorable actions” targeting some sub-Saharan people and called on people to show a civic-minded attitude. “We must not assault or insult people who live on our soil in the same way we don’t accept our compatriots to be ill-treated in Europe,” she said, according to AP. The Saied government has come under severe criticism from opposition and human rights groups in recent months for arresting political opponents who have criticised his rule and the economic woes the North African country finds itself in. In July 2021, Saied shut down parliament, dismissed the government and moved to rule by decree before rewriting the constitution, moves his critics call a coup that has pulled apart the democracy built after Tunisia’s 2011 revolution. What has been the reaction in Africa? The African Union has condemned Tunisia and urged it to avoid “racialised hate speech”.

“The Chairperson of the African Union Commission HE Moussa Faki Mahamat strongly condemns the shocking statement issued by Tunisian authorities targeting fellow Africans which go against the letter and the spirit of our Organization and founding principles,” a statement from the African Union said. It reminded Tunisia of its obligations within the 55-member bloc. Faki said member states are obligated “to treat all migrants with dignity, wherever they come from; refrain from racialised hate speech that could bring people to harm; and prioritise their safety and human rights”. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAGwEY3Tg5I[/embed]

[thetopbestguide]

Tunisian transport strike adds more woes for President Saied | News

Tunisian transport strike adds more woes for President Saied | News

Metro and bus traffic grounds to a halt in Tunis as employees go on strike over pay and bonuses. Metro and bus traffic in the Tunisian capital ground to a halt after employees of the state transport company held a strike over delays in the payment of wages and bonuses. The strike on Monday highlights the financial problems faced by public companies on the verge of bankruptcy, while the…

[arun-pratap-singh]

Tunisian transport strike adds more woes for President Saied | News

Tunisian transport strike adds more woes for President Saied | News

Metro and bus traffic grounds to a halt in Tunis as employees go on strike over pay and bonuses. Metro and bus traffic in the Tunisian capital ground to a halt after employees of the state transport company held a strike over delays in the payment of wages and bonuses. The strike on Monday highlights the financial problems faced by public companies on the verge of bankruptcy, while the…

[ahnewsworld]

Tunisian transport strike adds more woes for President Saied | News

Tunisian transport strike adds more woes for President Saied | News

Metro and bus traffic grounds to a halt in Tunis as employees go on strike over pay and bonuses. Metro and bus traffic in the Tunisian capital ground to a halt after employees of the state transport company held a strike over delays in the payment of wages and bonuses. The strike on Monday highlights the financial problems faced by public companies on the verge of bankruptcy, while the…

[siwarcheimbi]

Tunisian Feminism.

Tunisia as an “Arabic” country. (though that’s a debatable subject). Has been leading the Arabic women movement since the 20th century. In fact, the voice of equality between men and women emerged when Tunisia was still a colony and still fighting for its independence. But when it did finally regain it in 1956, the President Habib Bourguiba discussed that we couldn’t build a society while ruling out any part of it.

And one of Tunisia’s milestones is The Code of Personal Status. A document that abolished polygamy and repudiation. Enabled women to ask for divorce, enacted a minimum age for marriage and ordered the consent of both spouses before marriage.

This was a huge step for Tunisian women, it basically changed history for them. But it didn’t stop there;

women earned the right to vote in 1957

women were able to seek office in 1959

women were able to access birth control in 1962

Yes, the law has always had Tunisia women’s back. But the real question now lays in does this law apply to modern society?

As a 19 years old Tunisian feminist, I live my day to day life experiencing all kind of gender discrimination. And to my surprise, it comes both from men and women. I can overlook cat calls, sexual harassment in the streets and public transportation, and I can even endure the glass ceiling. But what I can’t swallow and comprehend is women fighting against their rights.

The other day, we were talking about this and a friend of mine said that she doesn’t believe in feminism because she never experiences discrimination. I was dumbfounded. Does she live in the same country as I do? Doesn’t she see the things I do?

It is estimated that 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner at some point in their lives.

More than 1 in 4 women in Tunis, Tunisia, have experienced some form of sexual harassment on public transportation, according to a survey conducted in 2016.

Also, let’s not forget about the repression of feminist activists. Women taking part in Human rights or Women’s rights activities and independent organizations are systematically targeted by the Tunisian authorities.

Just because something isn’t happening to you, doesn’t mean it is NOT happening AT ALL. We see them, we acknowledge them, and then it’s up to us to decide whether we want to act upon it or not. And today I decide to act.

I refuse to stay quiet.

I refuse to let things like this slide, I refuse to let inequality slide.

I refuse to let what Bourguiba built to go down the drain.

This isn’t Tunisia and it will never be.

So consider this to be a wakeup call for you, to be a voice for minorities, not just women. It doesn’t matter what you can or cannot do. Give your voice to those who are voiceless, give your voice to the woman who cannot rebel because he husband beats her 6 times a day. Give your voice to the little girl who her parents forced her to marry her rapist. Give your voice to the 6 years old girl, that didn’t go to school because her father didn’t allow it.

If you have a voice, use it, and don’t just let it get lost in the void.

[ottomanladies]

I don't know if you can answer but why is Selim II regarded as a bad sultan? Why some historian weigh up the Sultante of Woman as the reason for the empire decadence? Are there still ottoman records without unveil?

Selim II was a sedentary sultan who had been preceded by the greatest conqueror of the Ottoman dynasty. If you look at the other great conqueror - Mehmed II - his son Bayezid II is too considered a bad sultan.

I hope you'll forgive me for this never-ending quote from Pinar Kayaalp-Aktan, but I think she captures the whole thing very well:

"Selim was forty-two years of age when he became Padishah and reigned for eight years. His relatively short sultanate drew a disproportionate amount of criticism, although his way of handling the affairs of the state was not substantively different from that of Suleyman, who delegated much of his power to the central bureaucracy in the second part of his reign. The difference between the two sultanates consisted of the nature and magnitude of the internal and external variables that impacted on the superpower status of the Empire and the remarkable adjustments by the administrative elite to counteract these crises. [...] The criticism that Selim summarily delegated his prerogatives to the Divan belies the fact that he did not disassociate himself from its workings much more than his predecessors. One significant difference was that Selim did not go on any military campaigns [...]. Selim’s personal life style was another source of opprobrium. His penchant for wine, neglect of Friday prayers, and favoring his gentlemen-in-waiting were all construed as evidence of his disrespect for royal customs. Actually, Selim was neither the first nor the worst imperial drinker in Ottoman history. The earliest evidence of Ottoman sultans imbibing wine is traced to Orhan Gazi (1324-1362) when the Genoese envoys presented him with more than a thousand gallons of Triglia wine in 1351. Bayezid I’s grandson Murad II (1421-1451) also appears to have inherited the family’s fondness for alcohol, as did Suleyman the Magnificent, who only towards the end of his life abandoned his early preoccupation with luxurious attires, music, gold and silver tableware, and wine. Nevertheless, Selim’s unabashed display of drinking at the outset of his inauguration ceremony particularly offended Islamic sensibilities. [...] As for Selim’s second transgression, poor attendance record at mosque, he was again not the first sultan to ignore this cardinal Islamic duty. Bayezid I (1389-1402) was refused by Molla Fenari to stand as a witness at the shari’a court Fenari presided in Bursa on the grounds that the Sultan had summarily given up the practice of public prayer. [...] Selim’s third vice, his overindulgent attitude towards his cronies and favorites, was deemed to produce the most serious consequences for the Ottoman state. Sokollu, who was the most notable among the favorites, drew a lot of criticism in this regard. In the 1573 relazione mentioned earlier Garzoni depicts the Grand Vizier as unduly favored by Selim and blames the Sultan with obvious neglect for promoting someone who “is hated by everybody, ... abhorred by the people, and ill-considered by the grandees.” The charge of favoritism was extended beyond the members of the Divan to include any person too close to the Sultan. [...] Putting the real or perceived foibles of Selim's aside, the lack of Ottoman military success during his reign was a recurrent source of criticism. Such accusations did not take into consideration that the Ottoman military muscle simply reached the limits of the premodem requirements of transportation and ordnance. Considering this reality, the Ottoman military record under the leadership of Selim, his Divan, and serdars did not fare as badly as was often expressed. On the western front, Chios was wrested from the Genoese and Cyprus from the Venetians. In the east, two territories the Porte previously had lost its grip on, Yemen and Tunis, were brought back within the Ottoman fold. In the northwest, a pact negotiated with Austria legitimized the capture of Szeged by Suleyman and required Emperor Maximilian to pay 30,000 ducats in addition to a yearly tribute of 2,000. On the southeast, another pact signed with Venice established Ottoman sovereignty over Cyprus and charged the Venetians to pay a yearly tribute of 300,000 florins. On the debit side, the decimation of the Ottoman naval force by a joint Christian armada in Lepanto inflicted a heavy blow to Ottoman sovereignty over the Mediterranean, though the Porte quickly assembled a new fleet that proved instrumental in recapturing the important fort of La Goletta in Tunis.”

The short answer to "why do some historian weigh up the Sultanate of Women as the reason for the empire decadence?" is: misogyny. The long answer is provided by Leslie Peirce: 

“The rise to power of the imperial harem is one of the most dramatic developments in the sixteenth-century history of the Ottoman Empire. From almost the beginning of the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent, who came to the throne in 1520, until the mid-seventeenth century, high-ranking women of the Ottoman dynasty enjoyed a degree of political power and public prominence greater than ever before or after. Indeed, this period in the empire's history is often referred to, in both popular and scholarly literature, as "the sultanate of women."' The women of the imperial harem, especially the mother of the reigning sultan and his leading concubines, were considerably more active than their predecessors in the direct exercise of political power: in creating and manipulating domestic political factions, in negotiating with foreign powers, and in acting as regents for their sons. Furthermore, they played a central role in what we might call the public culture of sovereignty: public rituals of imperial legitimation and royal patronage of monumental building and artistic production. If the prominence of the imperial harem is a notable feature of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it is also one of the most misunderstood. Modern historical accounts of this period have tended to represent the influence of the harem as an illegitimate usurpation of power that resulted from a weakening of the moral fiber and institutional integrity of Ottoman society and that in turn contributed to problems plaguing the empire toward the end of the sixteenth Century. Difficulties in interpreting the rise of the imperial harem stem in large part from the fact that its power became manifest in the post-Suleymanic period. Traditionally, the reign of Suleyman has been regarded as the apogee of Ottoman fortunes and the period initiated by his death in 1566 one of precipitous decline from which the empire never fully recovered (despite the fact that it survived until the end of World War I). In this view, the personal incapacity of Suleyman's successors, in contrast to the vigor and ability of their ancestors, opened the door to the "meddling" of harem women, who did not hesitate to exploit their influence over "weak-minded" sultans to satisfy their "lust" for power and wealth. But the power of Ottoman royal women was too broadly and publicly expressed and too embedded in the structure of imperial institutions for it to be simplistically dismissed as illegitimate. Modern treatments of this period have not recognized the politically partisan nature of much of the contemporary critique of female power, such as the proclamation of Sunullah Efendi. Recently, new work on this period in Ottoman history has challenged the very notion of post-Suleymanic decline, bringing about a long-overdue reevaluation of developments in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Even some of these recent works, however, continue to repeat the unexamined theme of the dynasty's dissipation."

(bold highlighting is mine)

As for your last question, every day new documentation could be discovered. Like, every single day. Sometimes papers are not stored correctly, sometimes they're dismissed as useless by archivists and therefore forgotten in the storage room, sometimes they're not translated or interpreted correctly. History is an evolving science; we'll never reach the day in which we'll tell ourselves: okay, we've studied all the sources, there's nothing left to do.

[sa7abnews]

Who is Kamel Madouri, Tunisia's new PM?

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/11/who-is-kamel-madouri-tunisias-new-pm-2/

Who is Kamel Madouri, Tunisia's new PM?

Tunisian President Kais Saied has once again dismissed the country’s prime minister without offering any official explanation, as he scrambles to regain popularity ahead of a crucial presidential election in just two months.

On the evening of Wednesday, 7 August, President Saied announced the removal of Ahmed Hachani from his position as head of government. The statement from the Tunisian presidency provided no official reason for this decision.

Earlier that day, Hachani had published two videos discussing measures taken to address the water shortage and the difficult state of public transport. Last month, Saied blamed the shortage on “criminal organisations targeting the state’s stability.”

Hachani replaced Najla Bouden as prime minister last August, who was also dismissed without official justification.

His successor, appointed on the same night, is Kamel Madouri, who has been serving as the Minister of Social Affairs since May.

Who is Madouri, Tunisia’s new Prime Minister?

Born in 1974, Kamel Madouri holds a PhD in European Community Law and Maghreb-European Relations, as well as a Master’s in Legal Sciences from Tunis University.

An expert in Community Law, institutional law, international relations, and EU policies, he has been a permanent member of various Tunisian-foreign social security joint commissions.

Before venturing into politics, Madouri was the CEO of the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) and the National Retirement and Social Security Fund (CNRPS).

In addition to his administrative roles, Madouri has lectured at the National School of Administration and the Higher School of Internal Security Forces.

He has authored several publications on social security coordination under association agreements, reforms in health insurance and pensions, and social protection for migrant workers—Given Saied’s infamous anti-migrant policies, Madouri may find himself at odds with the president sooner than his predecessors.

Rollback of human rights under Saied

Elected in 2019, Saied consolidated power in July 2021 by dismissing his then-prime minister, and suspending and dissolving the Parliament. His critics have accused him of staging a coup against democracy.

In 2022, he revised the constitution to establish a hyper-presidential regime and elected a new Parliament with very limited powers. He is now seeking a second term.

On Monday, 5 August, Saied, 66, officially submitted his candidacy for the presidential election scheduled for 7 October. Meanwhile, potential challengers are being barred from running, including through prosecution, imprisonment, and bureaucratic obstacles.

Last month, Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard expressed alarm over the rollback of human rights in Tunisia. During a four-day visit to Tunis, she noted “arbitrary detentions” of opponents, “restrictions and prosecutions” against certain candidates, and the imprisonment of journalists.

“People who have not yet been directly affected told me they fear that their freedom could be curtailed at any time,” she wrote.

In response to criticism, Saied dismissed accusations of targeting his opponents, asserting that “the law applies equally to everyone”.

Since February 2023, more than twenty prominent politicians, businesspeople, and journalists have been detained in an investigation into an alleged conspiracy against the state and Saied. The Tunisian president described those arrested as “terrorists.” 

[creepingsharia]

Tunisia bans niqab (full face veil) in public institutions after 3 terror attacks in a week

Tunisia has banned the wearing of the niqab in public institutions for security reasons following three terror attacks.

Prime Minister Youssef Chahed's decision to ban the full face veil follows a suicide bombing in Tunis on Wednesday by a wanted militant.

Witnesses said the suicide bomber who blew himself up was disguised in a niqab.

It was the third incident in a week - Islamic State has said it carried out all three attacks - and came as Tunisia prepares for autumn elections.

The country is also at the height of a tourist season in which it hopes to draw record numbers of visitors.

A government official said: "Chahed signed a government decree that bars any person with an undisclosed face from access to public headquarters, administrations, institutions, for security reasons."

In 2011, women were allowed to wear the hijab and niqab in Tunisia after a decades-long ban under secular presidents Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Habib Bourguiba, who rejected all forms of Islamic dress.

Tunisia has been battling against militant groups operating in remote areas near its border with Algeria since an uprising overthrew Ben Ali in 2011.

It is one of the few countries in the region where Islamists share rule with secular parties.

The banning of the veil in Tunisia follows similar moves by a number of European countries.

Last year, Denmark introduced a total ban on niqabs and burkas which conceal even more of the face.

The Netherlands has also outlawed face-coverings in public places, including schools, hospitals and public transport.

France banned the wearing of face-covering headwear in public places in 2010, handing out fines to those who break the law.

In Britain, Conservative leadership contender Boris Johnson faced a major row last year when he compared women wearing face veils to "letter boxes" and bank robbers.

---------------------------------------------------------------

The niqab is not the problem per se, it is the ideology that commands the niqab that is the problem, and those who adhere to that ideology.

How many Americans will have to die before the U.S. learns this lesson?

[wildurbanism]

public transport in tunis, part 1

I’ve used Tunis public transport most days I’ve been in the city. There are buses, a metro system, light rail going from Centreville to the banlieue nord (TGM), and collective taxis and louages, so options for transport that don’t require owning your own vehicle are actually very abundant and often very nice. 

Comfort levels vary between methods of transport. Here’s a quick run-down for anyone trying to figure out how to get around:

Louages, or mini-buses, between cities are very very fast and may at one point or another involve sitting next to a small old woman vomiting into a bag. They can be intense when traveling for several hours, and after a few attempts to like them, not my favorite long distance travel method. However, they’re often the quickest and most reliable way to get between cities that aren’t served on train lines or with frequent buses. The two main louage stations for travel outside of Tunis are in Moncef Bey and Bab Alioua.

 Cultural note: Louage is a Tunisian word that I love because it’s an invented French word that might roughly translate to “rentation.” 

Here are a couple videos from my first louage trip:

(driver bumping mezwed, 106 year old man sleeping)

louage turn up with tisem: 

Taxi jam3y, or collective taxis within the city, are similarly speedy, but comfortable and usually only for short distances on relatively fixed routes, so I enjoy taking them. They are yellow mini-buses, and if you keep your eyes peeled it’s not hard to spot where they are waiting. You can find many of them waiting near the TGM station in Centreville on fixed loops to La Marsa, El Kram, etc. While in the cab, people typically pass money from the back to driver at some point during the ride, and people will often hand you money to give to the driver. You will get back correct change and fellow passengers will most likely be incredibly kind and helpful if you’re confused.

The metro is comfortable but not the speediest option and typically packed during rush hour. A map is available online (pictured below), and can also be found on the walls of some major connecting stations like Republique. The map definitely needs some visual edits, and the lack of signage and posted maps to access the metro outside of Centreville is a post for another day. 

(http://www.urbanrail.net/af/tunis/tunis.htm)

TGM is a metro going from Centreville to La Goulette, Le Kram, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, and La Marsa. It has a regular schedule posted and has always been comfortable, though I recently rode it around 9PM and realized I was the only woman in the car. Here’s a TGM map:

The bus is still a mystery to me -- Tunis has a mix of public and private bus companies with varying levels of comfort. There is no signage or maps in stations to indicate where buses go. Waiting can take an incredibly long time (I’ve given up after 30-40 minutes and hailed cabs more than once). On two occasions, while waiting alone for a bus, strange men pulled up cars next to me and attempted to solicit me (you are scum!). On one occasion, as I walked towards a bus, the bus driver looked at me and closed the doors because I wasn’t approaching with enough urgency. Womp. That being said, I do know women who take the bus daily without issue. There should be a schedule online but the link has never worked for me. Here it is in case it is someday functioning.

Taxis are safe and cheap, but occasionally require some stern bullshit detection -- make sure the meter is on. Expect hailing one to take forever in some areas or during rush hour.

Biking around Tunis, which is something I dream about daily, is not a common activity and I’m yet to muster up the courage to get around on two wheels here.

More on public transport coming soon...

[amazing-planet-amazing-planet]

Station métro Passage Tunis, Tunisia

[aftaabmagazine]

Summer 2002 Road Trip: Kabul-Kandahar-Herat

Photos and imagery by Fariba Nawa From the June 2004 issue of Afghan Magazine | Lemar-Aftaab

[caption: Tile work at the Gazargah shrine, Herat province.]

I traveled through Afghanistan in the fall of 2000 during the Taliban era and then returned in 2002 and 2003 to report for various publications and radio programs. These pictures are from the summer of 2002, when I took a cross-country road trip from Kabul, through Kandahar, and then to Herat, my hometown. This was before any roads were repaired, and during a time when many Afghans were still hopeful for change.

As a child, I lived in Kandahar, Helmand, and Herat. Now with American and European journalists as my travel mates, I traced back memories from my childhood, visiting sites like the Helmand River and the Gazergah shrine. I went to schools, shrines, bazaars, and private homes, talking to Afghans from every background and age to gauge the mood of the country.

We took a taxi on the road from Kandahar to Herat. It was a nine-hour ride through a dangerous zone where three people had been killed three days before. Our driver was easy-going, almost fearless, speeding at 90 mph on the cracked roads. We stopped for lunch at a roadside restaurant, and then our driver lit up his usual after-lunch joint. He smoked it as he drove.

My Spanish companion and I were not happy with his dessert. But our German photographer seemed amused. She was sitting in the front and taking photos of him.

"I can drive blindfolded through these roads," he told us with confidence.

Meanwhile, a group of turbaned men with Kalashnikovs jumped out from behind the small hills motioning us to stop with their guns. Our heartbeats accelerated as our car slowed to a stop. I had heard stories of road lootings, but this would be worse. We were all women and foreign women with a lot of cash on hand. We told the driver to keep going. He didn't listen. I somehow felt responsible for these women because I was the Afghan. A thousand things went through my mind. Will they rape us, kills us, and take our money? I clutched onto the door handle as one of the men stuck his head in the window and asked the driver for something in Pashtu.

I can barely understand Pashtu, but I could tell it was about money. We sat motionless, hoping the driver could rescue us. The driver handed the man a 40,000 afghani note, $1 then, said goodbye and drove off. The women looked dumbfounded. I asked the driver what had happened.

"They were just collecting toll. This is how people in this area make their money."

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

Join me on this journey.

Kabul

[caption: This is a co-education school in the Kabul neighborhood of Wazir Akbar Khan, which is one of the few areas in the capital left unscathed by war, although it suffers from years of neglect.]

[caption: A young girl gazes at the chalkboard absorbing the day's lessons.]

Kandahar

[caption: A view of the old city in Kandahar. Most Afghan cities and large towns are divided between old and new sections.]

[caption: Children at the Kandahar bazaar. It is common to see small children out alone, running errands for their parents, and taking care of younger siblings.]

[caption: This bird seller at the Kandahar bazaar sells most of his birds to vendors who make them fight against each other, similar to cockfighting.]

[caption: A young office assistant at the World Food Program. During her downtime, she uses the computer to draw portraits. She wants to be an artist.]

[caption: A 100-year-old Pashtu manuscript brought to the office of Culture and Information for preservation.]

[caption: Located near the old city of Kandahar, the Chihil Zina (Forty Steps) were built in the 16th century by Babur Shah, founder of the Moghul Empire. Inside the cave at the top of the steps, letters carved into the stone pay tribute to Babur Shah. This is one of Kandahar's most treasured historic sites.]

Kandahar to Herat

[caption: The bombed-out road from Kandahar to Herat. Drivers speed at 90 mph diving off the path to avoid destroyed bridges and then climbing back up. The drive takes nine hours to reach Herat city after passing three other provinces.]

[caption: Nasir, the driver for the Chicago Tribune, changes his seventh tire on the Tunis van. It took us about 17 hours from Kabul to Kandahar on the old, destroyed road. Now that the road has been rebuilt, the trip takes only five hours.]

[caption: Deserted Soviet army barracks. The fields are littered with mines en route to Herat.]

[caption: A taxi driver takes three women journalists, including me, from Kandahar to Herat. He rolls his joint and smokes his daily after-lunch hashish as he drives. "I can drive on this road with my eyes closed. Don't worry," he tells the frightened women.]

[caption: Camels are still common in rural Afghanistan. Nomads use them for transportation.]

Herat: Historic Sites 

[caption: Around the majestic Friday Mosque in Herat City, men make colorful crafts including handmade silk shawls. This shawl reads "Herat 2002."]

[caption: One of the minarets built in Herat's cultural renaissance in the 15th century during Timurid rule. They encircle the Gowharshad shrine and school, another landmark from the same era.]

[caption: The Friday Mosque (Masjid-e Jami) is a sanctuary for Sufis and vagabonds. It is one of the cleanest public places in the city with gleaming handmade tiles and marble floors. It is among the finest Islamic buildings in the world. The structure is built on the platform of a Fire Temple dating back to the Zoroastrian period.]

[caption: The Friday Mosque's main entrance. The mosque is decorated with beautiful Timurid tilework and calligraphy.]

[caption: Another view of the Friday Mosque.]

[caption: A malang (Sufi wanderer) in a trance at the Friday Mosque.]

[caption: Near the Friday Mosque are homes from a century ago. The architecture is common to the Islamic world with high ceilings, arches, and fountains in the courtyard. These homes are not being restored. Instead, Afghans are building boxy, whitewashed, modern-style houses modeled after those in Iran.]

[caption: This was once an indoor pool in one of the old houses.]

[caption: The family who lives in this house has been here for generations. But they are not sentimental about the fact that they have no running water or electricity.]

[caption: The view of the Friday Mosque from the roof of the old house.]

Herat: Crafts

[caption: In the corridors of the Friday mosque, workers bake and color tiles that will be used for the facades of other buildings in the city.]

[caption: A tile maker designs tiles.]

[caption: A finished tile looks something like the flower on the left.]

[caption: The glassblower of Herat. He has been blowing blue glass, an authentic Herati craft, for 30 years in front of the Friday Mosque. His young sons aid him in the laborious work, as they endure smoke and 120-degree heat inside a clay hut. "The foreigners come to see how interesting what I do is and how beautiful the glass turns out, but if I could trade this for another job, I'd take it in a second," he says.]

[caption: The father and his sons are busy at work.]

[caption: Designing the glass is a skillful task.]

[caption: Journalist Angeles Espinosa from Spain's premier newspaper El Pais visits the antique shop where the handmade glass is sold.]

Herat: City

[caption: Riding in a horse wagon is a form of transportation in Herat.]

[caption: One of the many sparkling gardens rented out for private family parties on the outskirts of the city. Families gather here on Fridays to picnic and swim.]

[caption: Most homes in Herat have fruit trees and grapevines. Families pluck their dessert right from their yards.]

Herat: Education 

[caption: Students at the Fine Arts College at Herat University. The classes are segregated by gender, but men and women study at the same university.]

[caption: Roia Hamid, a 26-year-old recent graduate of the Fine Arts College at Herat University, draws the image of a woman behind bars. Tears drip down from the sky to her face. "This is how I felt when the Taliban ruled here," Hamid says.]

[caption: Hamid's paintings. She copied this from a book lying around in her house.]

[caption: One of the students displays his work in the classroom. The men and women of the Fine Arts College organized a gallery exhibit. Some pieces sold for more than $1,000. The students are influenced by many art schools, including the classical school of Behzad, the 15th century Herati artist who established a unique style of miniature painting, often referred to as the "Rafael of the East".]

[caption: Young girls in school in uniform. At their age, a burka is not necessary.]

[caption: Classrooms in high schools are so full that students have to sit outside for exams. This group of girls is taking a geography test.]

Herat: Country and Camps 

[caption: Ishaq Norzi, an Afghan who lives in Iran, visits his family land in Ghorian, a village two hours from Herat city.]

[caption: A young woman in Ghorian village, one of the most devastated areas in the province. It's one of the drug trafficking routes to Iran and the men and women in Ghorian live on the drug trade. This woman is an opium addict living in a clay hut in the desert.]

[caption: A young girl at the internally displaced refugee camp of Maslakh carries bread on her head. Many of the camps inside the country are closing as people return to their homes, but Maslakh remains open for the most down and out refugees.]

[caption: A mother and infant stand in line to see the camp doctor. Camp residents suffer from cholera, malaria, diarrhea, typhoid, and many other diseases. Ailments in the West that are easily treated become a death sentence to many in Afghanistan who have limited access to health care.]

[caption: The camp bazaar. Refugees find innovative merchandise to sell from sweets to blankets.]

[caption: Goat heads or is it sheep?]

[caption: Young girls take care of their younger siblings as if they are the mothers.]

[caption: Some girls shy away from the camera; others own it with their smile.]

[caption: Maslakh's brightest smiles and its hope.]

Herat: Gazargah

[caption: It is an honor to be buried in the cemetery next to the Gazergah shrine, located 3 miles east of Herat city. The 15th century Timurid ruler Shah Rukh built the complex of buildings around the shrine.]

[caption: The Gazergah shrine of Khoja Abdullah Ansary, the renowned 11th-century Sufi poet. Afghans from every walk of life gather here to pray and give alms. The shrine and its surrounding cemetery, mosque, and garden belong to the Mir family, descendants of the poet.]

[caption: Centuries-old Persian calligraphy remains on the walls of the shrine.]

[caption: The gatekeepers of the shrine hid this statue of a lying dog from the Taliban. The architect who built the shrine represented himself as a dog to show his loyalty to the great poet, Ansary.]

[caption: Lavishly decorated tile work at the shrine.]

About Fariba Nawa فریبا نوا

Fariba Nawa, an award-winning Afghan-American journalist, covers a range of issues and specializes in women’s rights and conflict zones. She is based in Istanbul, Turkey and has traveled extensively to the Middle East, Central and South Asia. Visit Her Website

[kiconici-blog]

Characteristics of Tunisia Visa

http://www.ivisa.com/tunisia-visa

To have an employment visa you should have work in a sponsoring company that's prepared to employ you and execute the application process for your permit. The application procedure is quick, easy and efficient. Applications are prioritized in line with the service they are submitted under, however, the specific processing time can't be predicted beforehand.

Visitors wishing to stay for over 3 months must receive a visa. Processing time is dependent upon embassy. You might be able to ask, but the very best thing to do is leave more than enough time prior to your trip to find the visa.

You are able to read more about the minimal standards here. Principal amount usually means the principal sum of the Eligible Notes issued by the Borrower. Additional details on planning your company and drawing up a business program is available here.

Once you're in the system, you will realize your dashboard. Instructions for creating a request are offered in the publication InfoSource, copies of which are in local Service Canada Centres. As soon as your application is finished, we'll return it to you via a safe and encrypted email keeping your own personal information safe.

Whispered Tunisia Visa Secrets Your visa request may not be processed should you not finish the application form online. In case the visa was granted, the applicant will get an electronic visa in the sort of a PDF file that may be saved on the telephone or printed for presentation at the border. Your passport is going to be taken so you are able to get your visa and you'll be informed once you can get it back, either by pick-up or in the mail.

If you've secured your own invitation you have to send us the original. Applying for a student visa by yourself could be hard and overwhelming. Informing your bank you are going to be using your credit card overseas.

You won't have any issue getting help to discover the suitable louage for your destination. For those people who are traveling onward to some other nation, they are advised that a distinct quantity of drugs ought to be sealed and declared again before exiting the nation. No matter where in the world you want to travel it's always important to get the most up-to-date travel details.

The Most Popular Tunisia Visa There are a lot of requirements that you will need to fulfill in order to get a visa and they vary from nation to nation. It's far better use public transport. Most Uganda citizens don't know about the simple fact that all over the Earth, there are lots of countries Ugandans can travel to without a visa.

If you plan to submit an application for a visa for travel to Iceland in one of the next nations, you need to contact an embassy or consulate in the respective nation. In summary, foreign nationals are expected to acquire a visa to be permitted to remain in the nation. The Tunis airport doesn't accept Dinar in its gift shops when you proceed through customs.

What Tunisia Visa Is - and What it Is Not The situation is not going to create a travel warning to blanket the whole nation, and Intrepid is in a position to adjust itineraries to prevent hot spots and address concerns. For company or tourist visits to numerous foeriegn countries American citizens require a valid travel visa. The eVisa will simplify the practice of getting travel authorization to enter the nation.

Information about how to submit an application for a tourist visa is here. It's far cheaper to find a native SIM card in the nation you're traveling in. The quickest and easiest way to make an application for a visitor visa is online.

To have a student visa, your sponsoring educational institution will want to submit an application for the visa for your benefit. Otherwise, you will file the petition in the usa. Mexican Nationals Mexican nationals aren't visa-exempt.

Furthermore, bear in mind that submitting the mandatory documentation doesn't guarantee the issuance of a visa. Please visit our site to understand the necessities of the country you need visa for. It is possible to save yourself time and money by getting your petition, forms and visa applications done correctly with the help of a seasoned immigration consultant.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 8.25

19 – The Roman general Germanicus dies near Antioch. He was convinced that the mysterious illness that ended in his death was a result of poisoning by the Syrian governor Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, whom he had ordered to leave the province. 766 – Emperor Constantine V humiliates nineteen high-ranking officials, after discovering a plot against him. He executes the leaders, Constantine Podopagouros and his brother Strategios. 1248 – The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III, the Archbishop of Utrecht. 1258 – Regent George Mouzalon and his brothers are killed during a coup headed by the aristocratic faction under Michael VIII Palaiologos, paving the way for its leader to ultimately usurp the throne of the Empire of Nicaea. 1270 – Philip III, although suffering from dysentery, becomes King of France following the death of his father Louis IX, during the Eighth Crusade. His uncle, Charles I of Naples, is forced to begin peace negotiations with Muhammad I al-Mustansir, Hafsid Sultan of Tunis. 1537 – The Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior, is formed. 1543 – António Mota and a few companions become the first Europeans to visit Japan. 1580 – War of the Portuguese Succession: Spanish victory at the Battle of Alcântara brings about the Iberian Union. 1609 – Galileo Galilei demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers. 1630 – Portuguese forces are defeated by the Kingdom of Kandy at the Battle of Randeniwela in Sri Lanka. 1758 – Seven Years' War: Frederick II of Prussia defeats the Russian army at the Battle of Zorndorf. 1814 – War of 1812: On the second day of the Burning of Washington, British troops torch the Library of Congress, United States Treasury, Department of War, and other public buildings. 1823 – American fur trapper Hugh Glass is mauled by a grizzly bear while on an expedition in South Dakota. 1825 – The Thirty-Three Orientals declare the independence of Uruguay from Brazil. 1830 – The Belgian Revolution begins. 1835 – The first Great Moon Hoax article is published in The New York Sun, announcing the discovery of life and civilization on the Moon. 1875 – Captain Matthew Webb becomes the first person to swim across the English Channel, traveling from Dover, England, to Calais, France, in 21 hours and 45 minutes. 1883 – France and Viet Nam sign the Treaty of Huế, recognizing a French protectorate over Annam and Tonkin. 1894 – Kitasato Shibasaburō discovers the infectious agent of the bubonic plague and publishes his findings in The Lancet. 1898 – Seven hundred Greek civilians, 17 British guards and the British Consul of Crete are killed by a Turkish mob in Heraklion, Greece. 1914 – World War I: Japan declares war on Austria-Hungary. 1914 – World War I: The library of the Catholic University of Leuven is deliberately destroyed by the German Army. Hundreds of thousands of irreplaceable volumes and Gothic and Renaissance manuscripts are lost. 1916 – The United States National Park Service is created. 1920 – Polish–Soviet War: Battle of Warsaw, which began on August 13, ends with the Red Army's defeat. 1933 – The Diexi earthquake strikes Mao County, Sichuan, China and kills 9,000 people. 1939 – The United Kingdom and Poland form a military alliance in which the UK promises to defend Poland in case of invasion by a foreign power. 1940 – World War II: The first Bombing of Berlin by the British Royal Air Force. 1942 – World War II: Second day of the Battle of the Eastern Solomons; a Japanese naval transport convoy headed towards Guadalcanal is turned back by an Allied air attack. 1944 – World War II: Paris is liberated by the Allies. 1945 – Ten days after World War II ends with Japan announcing its surrender, armed supporters of the Chinese Communist Party kill U.S. intelligence officer John Birch, regarded by some of the American right as the first victim of the Cold War. 1945 – The August Revolution ends as Emperor Bảo Đại abdicates, ending the Nguyễn dynasty. 1948 – The House Un-American Activities Committee holds first-ever televised congressional hearing: "Confrontation Day" between Whittaker Chambers and Alger Hiss. 1950 – To avert a threatened strike during the Korean War, President Truman orders Secretary of the Army Frank Pace to seize control of the nation's railroads. 1961 – President Jânio Quadros of Brazil resigns after just seven months in power, initiating a political crisis that culminates in a military coup in 1964. 1967 – George Lincoln Rockwell, founder of the American Nazi Party, is assassinated by a former member of his group. 1980 – Zimbabwe joins the United Nations. 1981 – Voyager 2 spacecraft makes its closest approach to Saturn. 1985 – Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808 crashes near Auburn, Maine, killing all eight people on board including peace activist and child actress Samantha Smith. 1989 – Voyager 2 spacecraft makes its closest approach to Neptune, the last planet in the Solar System at the time, due to Pluto being within Neptune's orbit from 1979 to 1999. 1989 – Pakistan International Airlines Flight 404, carrying 54 people, disappears over the Himalayas after take off from Gilgit Airport in Pakistan. The aircraft was never found. 1991 – Belarus gains its independence from the Soviet Union. 1991 – The Battle of Vukovar begins. An 87-day siege of Vukovar by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), supported by various Serb paramilitary forces, between August and November 1991 (during the Croatian War of Independence). 1991 – Linus Torvalds announces the first version of what will become Linux. 1997 – Egon Krenz, the former East German leader, is convicted of a shoot-to-kill policy at the Berlin Wall. 2001 – American singer Aaliyah and several members of her record company are killed as their overloaded aircraft crashes shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour Airport, Bahamas. 2006 – Former Prime Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Lazarenko is sentenced to nine years imprisonment for money laundering, wire fraud, and extortion. 2012 – Voyager 1 spacecraft enters interstellar space becoming the first man-made object to do so. 2017 – Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the United States since 2004. Over the next few days, the storm causes catastrophic flooding throughout much of eastern Texas, killing 106 people and causing $125 billion in damage.

[pndiho]

TUNISIA FLIGHTS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT DISRUPTED AMID UNION STRIKE

TUNISIA FLIGHTS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT DISRUPTED AMID UNION STRIKE

On Thursday, flights, public transportation, and business were disrupted across Tunisia as travelers waited with their luggage at Tunis-Carthage International Airport after flights were canceled due to the vast public sector strike to demand salary hikes and concessions on looming reforms. Paul Ndiho has more.