ABIR MAHERSI

Peace and the Value of Freedom in Tunisia

In Tunisia, freedom brings to Tunisians the possibility to change their destiny. It is
also their tool that enables them to live in a peaceful and bright world. This point
can be understood when we think of Tunisia after the Revolution. The existence of
freedom makes Tunisians able to decide and choose their representatives; we have
the chance to elect for real our representatives in order to write the new
Constitution. Once more, in 2014, we, the people, successfully and freely voted to
select our President for the next five years. Its only when we have our freedom,
when we recognize and understand that we have the right to be free and to express
ourselves without fear or hesitation that we can live in peace. When our right to
access public spaces and to decide is respected, when violence stops to exist and
when conversations and exchange of thoughts and ideas spread between members
of society then we can speak of living in peace. Freedom of speech and
expression requires the two parties engaged in this dialogic
relationship to acquire the needed skills for dialogue, decisionmaking and mediation so that conflicts, violence and fights can
be avoided.
The value of freedom can be appreciated and perceived only by people who have
a sense of the past and a highly developed understanding of human nature.
It is unfair to say that before Revolution Tunisians were not free or didnt have
their freedom because this expression has a broad sense and it can encompass all
its connotations. For instance we can think of its meaning from two perspectives.
From the perspective of people who live in freedom, freedom is taken for granted
they tend to ignore its existence. On the other hand, people ,who have not been
raised within a long-standing tradition of freedom, would have trouble
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ABIR MAHERSI

understanding and exercising it properly in their society. Concerning the freedoms

taken for granted in Tunisia before and especially after the Revolution, there are
the freedom to follow any religion as Tunisians can choose to be Muslims,
Christians, Jews etc; the freedom for women to vote, drive and work; the
freedom to choose who we marry; and the freedom for each individual to decide
what they want to wear (veil, traditional clothes, niqab, a suit, jeans ), read, and
think.
Freedom is not absolute thats why all freedom requires compromise between the
rights of the individual and the goals and obligations of the state , and this
explains the crucial role of many laws, regulations and judicial pronouncements
regarding the ideals of freedom and the details of how it is to be practiced.
The most well known rights that we can find in the new Constitution and even
in the old one are the freedoms of religion, speech, the press, peaceful
assembly, and petitioning the government.
The Revolution can show the importance and value of the freedom to protest
decisions we think are unjust in Tunisia. At that time it wasnt a real freedom
but Tunisians were able to gain and preserve their freedom from oppression
and dictatorship. After the Revolution the freedom to peaceful protest kept
giving us a voice that has a great effect and role in implementing change and
saving Tunisia from being destructed by terrorists and even hidden forces that
were trying to destroy an entire nation and history.
Freedom and unity and a great sense of belonging to Tunisia was the most
efficient arm against those mysterious enemies including terrorists and people
who were trying to divide the country into north and south . Freedom of
expression is the magical weapon that can target and clean the country from

ABIR MAHERSI

those who hate seeing my Tunisia surviving and living in peace and happiness.
Its due to this freedom that you can see almost all the Tunisians united on
the different media such as the internet, television, newspapers, associations,
universities and everywhere, you can see them expressing themselves,
criticizing the situation in Tunisia and sometimes suggesting solutions for
some problems. Just to be realistic I should mention that freedom is not free
in the Revolution people were protesting and doing their duty towards Tunisia
but some are killed by snipers, cops, and even by criminals and , even during
the French protectorate, our ancestors when they tried to defeat the enemy and
gain their independence , it was not for free , it wasnt that easy for them to
reach their goal and ensure peace to the coming generations , they were
fighting ,they got shot and executed, but finally freedom and peace reign .
Freedom of expression can cost us so much as well, saying the truth or
criticizing current political situations can be life threatening but even the
death of those heroes is a sign of rebirth, a path for a new beginning and a
symbol of hope for a better and joyful future.

Freedom of speech or free speech is an indispensable part of human

dignity, progress, and liberty. Speaking about freedom can never have an
end, but I will finish what Im writing by the thoughts of the English
philosopher John Stuart Mill who noted In his classic treatise, On Liberty

(1859), that while many people claim to believe in free speech, in

fact just about everyone has his or her own notions of what speech is
dangerous, or worthless, or just plain wrongand, for those reasons,
undeserving of protection. Ultimately, free speech exists as a check on
official power, whether that power was elected, appointed, or inherited.
Without that check, freedom suffers and tyranny flourishes.

ABIR MAHERSI

If we don't have freedom of religion, we have religion imposed on us and its

the freedom of expression and speech that has a leading role in making
Tunisians aware of the political actualities which allow us to decide freely
what is better for us without being obliged to subdue to the rule and behavior
of a corrupted ruler or official. If we think of the importance of freedom we
can come to the conclusion that Freedom with all its meanings can bring
peace and wellness for the country as well as for the people in case citizens use
their critical eye towards everything happening in Tunisia and stop being
selfish and fanatic .