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Radical Islam followers demonstrate, some holding a picture of a defaced logo of a television channel, after Friday prayer in Tunis. Hassene Dridi/AP

Tunisian TV boss's home attacked over airing of controversial movie

The owner of a private TV network is attacked after his film showed ‘Persepolis’, which contains a depiction of Allah.

THE OWNER of a Tunisian TV channel has had his home attacked with firebombs by an angry mob protesting against his channel’s airing of a controversial movie.

Nessma reported that around 100 people attacked the home of its owner Nabil Karoui, hurling firebombs and forcing his wife and children to flee the house.

Karoui, who has apologised for airing the movie ‘Persepolis’, was not at home at the time. The film is deemed blasphemous by conservatives.

Earlier in the day, Tunisian police used tear gas to disperse thousands in the capital protesting against the film following weekly prayers.

Worshippers poured out of al-Fatah mosque in downtown Tunis in the afternoon and began protesting after the imam preached against ‘Persepolis’, calling it a “serious attack on the religious beliefs of Muslims.”

The demonstrations and home assault represent an escalations in tensions liberals and religious conservatives ahead Tunisia’s landmark elections later this month, which will nominate a constitutional body to determine the future in the era after the ousting of Ben Ali.

Marjane Satrapi’s award-winning adaptation of her graphic novels about growing up during Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution contains a scene showing a character representing Allah. Depictions of the god are considered sacrilege in Islam.

The preacher in Tunis questioned the timing of the broadcast by a private TV station during such a sensitive period before the election, describing it as an attempt to divide Tunisians at a time when national unity was needed.

There have been other protests against the TV station in the cities of Sousse, Monastir, Sidi Bouzid and Beja. Police arrested 50 demonstrators in Tunis on Sunday after they tried to attack the station.

There have been a rise in attacks against perceived symbols of secularism by hardcore Muslims in Tunisia ahead of the elections. Once suppressed by the former regime, conservative Muslims are increasingly making themselves heard in the country’s politics.

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8 Comments
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    Mute Cyril Butler
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    Oct 15th 2011, 1:46 PM

    If there was a recreational drug that could make a society as crazy as those of religious nations it would be banned. Im not suggesting that religion should be banned but that it should not be granted intellectual respect. The far left who along with Islamists coin terms such as Islamophobia which is to pathologise what is a perfectly rational and healthy fear. This is entirely different to a prejudice against Muslims or any other Immigrant for that matter. Islamists living in the west do not have the right to not be offended anymore than Christians. Im sorry but your religion like the rest of them is batshit. I will not respect views that deny science and evidence. And no that does not make me a bigot nor is it prejudice. It is simply not very smart to believe a 6th century illiterate can tell 21st century society how to live. It is even less smart to organise societies around these views.

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    Mute Waffler
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    Oct 15th 2011, 2:11 PM

    i hate that i can’t criticise someone’s insane beliefs without being branded a bigot.

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    Mute Robert Mulraney
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    Oct 15th 2011, 1:56 PM

    “protesting against his channel’s airing of a controversial movie”. Controversial?! Has the author actually watched the film? It’s only controversial to bigots and right wing fundamentalists, to anyone else its a story about the life of a young girl growing up in a country ruled of such people. Let’s not act as apologists here, there is absolutely nothing in the film which could be considered ‘controversial”

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    Mute Réada Quinn
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    Oct 15th 2011, 3:11 PM

    Its not that long since there was mob outside RTE after tommy tiernan’s blood.

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    Mute Cyril Butler
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    Oct 15th 2011, 3:22 PM

    Yes Reada but if enough of society stood up to these thugs the world would be a better place. It is simply because so few comedians will stand up and mock this insane bullshit that they have an easy target. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a hero.

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    Mute Joe Sixtwo
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    Oct 15th 2011, 2:54 PM

    Why don’t these barbaric idiots let their all powerful god deal with this?

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    Mute Waffler
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    Oct 15th 2011, 2:10 PM

    i actually thought that movie portrayed muslims in a positive light. the previous regime came across as elitist snobs

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    Mute Réada Quinn
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    Oct 15th 2011, 3:32 PM

    He is indeed. Tolerance and acceptance is the only way forward. I was merely pointing out that Irish people were very conservative themselves.
    Was going to quote the plank and the splinter story to you but decided it would be too biblical for you!
    Roll on the pushers and shakers.

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