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| Islamists clash with police in Tunisia | Islamists clash with police in Tunisia |
| (8 days later) | |
| Supporters of Ansar al-Sharia clashed with Tunisian police on Sunday after the government banned the hardline Islamist group's annual rally, saying it posed a threat to society. Ansar al-Sharia, which openly supports al-Qaida, is considered the most radical of the Islamist groups to have emerged in Tunisia since the revolution in 2011 that overthrew the secular dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. | Supporters of Ansar al-Sharia clashed with Tunisian police on Sunday after the government banned the hardline Islamist group's annual rally, saying it posed a threat to society. Ansar al-Sharia, which openly supports al-Qaida, is considered the most radical of the Islamist groups to have emerged in Tunisia since the revolution in 2011 that overthrew the secular dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. |
| In the central city of Kairouan, where the rally was to have been held, supporters threw stones at police, who fired teargas in response, a witness said. | In the central city of Kairouan, where the rally was to have been held, supporters threw stones at police, who fired teargas in response, a witness said. |
| Police also prevented the group holding a smaller religious meeting in the Ettadamen district of Tunis on Sunday, prompting clashes with the Salafists who chanted "the rule of the tyrant should fall", according to one witness. Police fired teargas and shots into the air to disperse about 500 protesters there who were throwing stones at officers. The state news agency reported that one protester had died. | Police also prevented the group holding a smaller religious meeting in the Ettadamen district of Tunis on Sunday, prompting clashes with the Salafists who chanted "the rule of the tyrant should fall", according to one witness. Police fired teargas and shots into the air to disperse about 500 protesters there who were throwing stones at officers. The state news agency reported that one protester had died. |
| The interior ministry said on Friday that it had banned the gatherings of the group, "which has shown disdain for state institutions, incited violence against them and poses a threat to public security". Ansar al-Sharia said police had arrested its spokesman, Saifeddine Rais, a claim confirmed by a security source. | The interior ministry said on Friday that it had banned the gatherings of the group, "which has shown disdain for state institutions, incited violence against them and poses a threat to public security". Ansar al-Sharia said police had arrested its spokesman, Saifeddine Rais, a claim confirmed by a security source. |
| Hardline Islamist Salafists are seeking a broader role for religion in Tunisia, alarming the secular elite, which fears their agenda is to impose strict views on people and compromise individual freedom, women's rights and democracy. Tunisian police blamed a Salafist for the assassination of the secular opposition politician Chokri Belaid in February, which provoked the biggest street protests in Tunisia since the overthrow of Ben Ali. | Hardline Islamist Salafists are seeking a broader role for religion in Tunisia, alarming the secular elite, which fears their agenda is to impose strict views on people and compromise individual freedom, women's rights and democracy. Tunisian police blamed a Salafist for the assassination of the secular opposition politician Chokri Belaid in February, which provoked the biggest street protests in Tunisia since the overthrow of Ben Ali. |
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