Above: Former Tunisian President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali (left) visits Mohamed Al Bouazzizi (right) at the hospital in Ben Arous near Tunis on December 28, 2010. Al Bouazzizi self immolation on December 16, 2010 began the Arab Spring and the revolution that toppled Ben Ali. Source Handout from Tunisian Presidency of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.
Tunis, Kasbah- On the 17th December 2013, crowds of Tunisians participated in protests in the Kasbah Square, marking the 3rd anniversary of the Tunisian revolution. The demonstrations were based on a common current belief that the interests of Tunisia as a whole are more important than those of individual political parties. According to the event’s official Facebook page, the main goals of the event were to continue what Tunisians started three years ago by protesting against corruption, torture and repression.
Following the interior ministry’s ban on the participation of any illegal organization in the protests, including Ansar al Shariaa, the event organizers insisted on peaceful demonstrations, without any use of political slogans or mottos. People from different regions were invited to participate and to show patriotic support, regardless of their political or ideological views. Organizers persuaded participants against the use of Ansar Al Shariaa flags, after threats from the police to break up the protests.
Organizers reported various obstacles on their official Facebook page: electricity was occasionally cut, security checkpoints were set up before the entrance to the Kasbah Square, and many people coming from different regions such Kairouan , Sfax , Bizert and Siliana were forbidden from entering the Kasbah Square all together.
Parallel events took place in Sidi Bouzid and Kairouan. In the Kairouan protests, the 17th December was considered not as a day of celebration, but as a day for starting a new revolution and defending the rights of the people so that the efforts of three years ago will no go in vain.