Tunisian authorities arrest pro-Palestine activist

Tunisian authorities arrested a pro-Palestine activist, after he stormed the pitch during a World Cup qualifier match and tore down a company banner.

According to the New Arab on March 26th, activist Mohamed Amin Touihri invaded the pitch waving a Palestinian flag and tore down an advertising banner for Carrefour, a retailer accused of supporting the Israeli occupation.

French company Carrefour has been named on the list of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, after allegedly providing Israeli soldiers with personal packages through its Israeli subsidiary.

Touihri was quickly brought in front of the public prosecutor and faces charges of trespassing, causing disorder, and inciting unrest, as he awaits further legal proceedings following his release. 

Footage showed the brutality of security forces that violently tackled him during his arrest. 

“I was beaten up so much, but nothing compared to what the Palestinian people are enduring,” he said.

As the video spread online, many expressed their support for the activist, with Tunisians gathering in front of the police station he was detained in, and groups organising a peaceful protest in a Carrefour store in Tunis.

Supporters from the Gafsa football team also started a petition for the Tunisian national team to stop its endorsement deal with Carrefour, a team sponsor for over the last 12 years. 

Pro-Palestine activism is frequent in Tunisia, and many fear it is being criminalized by the authorities.

Just recently, activists stormed the headquarters of Maersk, a company accused of shipping weapons to Israel, leading to clashes with the police, and prompting criminal charges against the protestors. 

Pro-Palestine activists have not been spared by Kais Saied’s wider clampdown on political opponents and civil society. At least five activists have been arrested in the past months, with three of them facing charges relating to terrorism. 

A proposition of law intending to forbid the normalization between the two States was halted in 2023 at Saied’s demand.

Yet Saied has categorically maintained his refusal to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, despite reports of Tel Aviv seeking to expand its influence in North Africa. 

The New Arab, Maghrebi