In Tunisia, the song of discord

On December 10, Rabat formalized the revival of its ties with Israel in exchange for recognition by the United States of its sovereignty over Western Sahara. In the other capitals of the Maghreb, stupor and silence. Algeria, deprived of President of the Republic hospitalized in Germany since October 28, will not speak that after 48 hours. In Tunis, nothing. The head of government, Hichem Mechichi, will explain from Paris, with France 24, that Morocco is a friendly and sovereign country but that the issue of standardization is not on the agenda in its country. It was then that a revealing incident occurred north of Tunis, in La Ouina. A song posted online attracts a myriad of troubles to one of its musicians, a Tunisian.

In his messaging, “you are going to die”

Composer and singer, Noomane Chaari founded an association in November 2019 whose objective is “peace between religions and peoples” he said. It is “an intercultural musical project on behalf of the Arab Council for Regional Integration, Acri”. The Acri is an organization founded by Arab intellectuals favorable to dialogue with Israel. Noomane Chaari says that he then made “a trip to Israel and Palestine to give several concerts”. The media are warned, without notable turmoil. And this month, the music video for the song “Peace Among Neighbors” goes live with some success. The Israeli Ziv Yehezkel interprets the words of a Yemeni poet. Noomane specifies: “He is an Iraqi Jew with a Moroccan mother. He adds that no law forbids him to sing with a Jew. The song causes a stir on the Tunisian agora: Facebook.

Noomane Chaari notes that “the threats come from a #media Facebook group which has many journalists as members.” A photo combining the Israeli flag and a screenshot of his clip is posted. In caption: “A Tunisian musician sings an Israeli song. “Via his official page, he receives private messages:” You are going to die like your father “, an anonymous person told him, aware that he had lost his father fifteen days earlier. The UGTT musicians’ union considers that it is “a provocation against the Tunisian people and against the whole of the Arab people”. The UGTT, the country’s main trade union center, has always viewed the Palestinian issue as a red line.

Now, Noomane says he fears for his safety. “In my neighborhood, I read in my eyes that things have changed. “He went to the police station, he wants to seize a lawyer in order to file complaints against those who threaten him. Only a judge is able to decide on surveillance. In turn, it is put on hold in its television activities. He had been participating for four weeks in a program broadcast by the national channel, Wataniya. He says he received a phone call telling him to “stay home for a month”. Yet the show is called Everyone with us. Verbal message for Noomane whose “contract is being drawn up, I have not yet received it despite the promises”. The administrative labyrinth is customary for these deadlines. The person concerned considers that “the director of the channel was under pressure” without defining the perpetrators of said pressure. He would like “the government to stand together, the police to protect me and my God too”.

Revealing story of an atmosphere

Noomane Chaari’s quarrels with some journalists and a small gang that acts in gang on social networks are a mirror of what is happening on a larger scale. Not long ago, at the Assembly of People’s Representatives, drops of blood flowed on the forehead of a deputy while the elected Samia Abbou found herself on the ground in a corridor of the Bardo Palace. Ten years after the suicide of Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, the founding act of the Arab Spring which brought about the fall of the despot Ben Ali, times are troubled. If the Palestinian question remains a red line in Tunisia, protests in its favor no longer attract large crowds. Noomane Chaari’s song was broadcast on Thursday by private radio IFM. If music softens mores, it all depends on who you listen to it.