Tunisian Prime Minister Ignites Controversial Uproar Over French Documentary

Tunisian Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani’s recent visit to Paris and comments regarding the French documentary "Between Poverty and Dictatorship, the Great Step Backwards" have ignited a heated debate among government supporters in Tunisia. The documentary aired on the French channel M6, focusing on the alleged negative impacts of President Kais Saied’s rule, highlighting issues like shrinking freedoms, economic struggles, and the treatment of sub-Saharan African migrants.

In an unusual move that turned into inadvertent advertisement, Hachani, alongside his French counterpart Gabriel Attal, criticized the documentary, labeling it as an unfriendly act and an attempt to harm Tunisian-French relations. This led to a surge in viewership, with the documentary securing over 80,000 views on YouTube and stoking a media frenzy in Tunisia.

The response has been polarizing, with many lashing out at Hatem Nafti, an essayist featured in the documentary who expressed criticism of the Tunisian government. Nafti, who resides in France, defended his commentary as nothing new and stated that the outrage seemed more related to his message being heard by 'white people,' highlighting a national sensitivity to Western perspectives on Tunisia's progress.

The backlash primarily concerns Nafti’s remarks on the treatment of sub-Saharan African refugees and the plight of political prisoners under Saied’s regime, including 82-year-old Rachid Ghannouchi. Ghannouchi, the head of the Ennahdha party and former speaker of parliament, has denied charges of incitement and receiving foreign funding, with rights groups alleging political repression by the president.

Both Nafti and Hamza Meddeb, a researcher from the Carnegie Middle East Center, also based in France, highlighted the reinforcement of anti-Western sentiment in Tunisia. This sentiment has been exacerbated by perceived Western hypocrisy regarding human rights, especially following Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The EU-Tunisia migration pact, signed in the wake of a speech by President Saied that inflamed racial tensions, has become another focal point of criticism, with Nafti decrying the moral implications of the agreement and France’s stance on migration.

The fallout from the documentary illustrates the vulnerabilities within Saied’s regime and the sensitivities surrounding Western critique of Tunisia's political landscape. As the documentary’s impact continues to ripple through Tunisia's media and public discourse, Nafti stands firm, insisting on the integrity of his views despite the uproar.