Summary:

February 6th is an extraordinary day for Tunisia, as Tunisians remember the assassination of Chokri Belaid. It was an event so shocking that most Tunisians remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they first heard the news. But why?

First a little background…

Chokri Belaid was a Tunisian politician and lawyer who studied law in Iraq and completed his education at the University of Paris. He is one of the founders of the Popular Front Movement and was a member of its Board of Trustees. During the Habib Bourguiba period (1957-1987), he was a vocal opponent and even imprisoned for a time. Belaid spoke out against the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and was also one of the harshest critics of the performance of the coalition government in Tunisia after the revolution.

And then on February 6th, Belaid was shot in front of his house in the Menzah 6 neighborhood of Tunis.

Following Belaid’s death, there were massive demonstrations and a general strike.

Demonstrations took place in several Tunisian cities, and several headquarters of the Ennahda movement were burned. Many demonstrators marched on Habib Bourguiba Street in Tunis, and skirmishes broke out between the demonstrators and the security forces in the neighborhoods of Tunis, which led to the killing of a security guard and many wounded.

Demonstrators held symbolic funerals for Belaid in several Tunisian cities. And neighboring countries expressed their regret and solidarity. Notably, many women attended his funeral, which to some was perceived as contrary to Islamic traditions. February 8th was a national day of mourning and Tunisian flags were lowered to half mast.

Outlook:  

So what made this assassination so impactful?

Political assassinations are unfortunate but common in other countries, but not so in Tunisia. After the assassination of trade union leader Farhat Hashad during the French colonial era, Tunisia did not record another assassination for 60 years. His assassination also came at a perilous time for the new Tunisian government, as many feared that it would upend political stability.

Moreover, guns per capita are low in Tunisia, and so such a brazen use of firearms in public was truly shocking.

And now after ten years, the investigation is still ongoing. The accusation of assassination is hovering around many parties, and intrigue and conspiracies abound. Contrary to what many Tunisians expected, exactly who did it and importantly, who directed the assassination, has not been revealed, and may never be.

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