Tunisia – Tunisians declare boycott of upcoming referendum

Location: Tunis – Tunisia

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:3:30

Sound: natural

Source: A24 in Tunisia

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Date: 23/07/ 2022

Storyline:

The National Salvation Front, which consists of Tunisian political parties and figures, carried out a sit-in protest today in the center of Tunis, as part of The ‘National Campaign to Abolish the Referendum’. The protest comes 48 hours before the referendum will be held on Monday July 25^th. Protesters called for boycott of the referendum, declaring their resolve to continue protest until the return to 2014 constitution.

Shotlist:

– Soundbite (Imad Khamiri – Leader of Ennahda movement):

“Our message is that of Tunisian public, we are against the coup and its courses of action, starting from digital counseling, to formal dialogue participants found insulting, ending with the referendum. We believe all these courses of action illegitimate and carried out by the coup authority, they do not involve any plan to resolve issues in Tunisia.” 

– Soundbite (Samira Al-Shawashi  Deputy speaker of dissolved Parliament):

“Using the state and its bodies to publicize this referendum is an indication that we should denounce it and its outcomes. Our fight against the coup will continue even on July 25, as we celebrate Republic Day.”

– Soundbite (Abdellatif Mekki – Former leader of Ennahda movement):

“Our resolve remains strong, we will continue to take action against the coup in order to regain a life of democracy, and resolve our issues in a civilized manner that involves starting dialogue to convey the will of Tunisians, respecting legal texts, and supporting solidarity.”

– Soundbite (Jawhar bin Mubarak – Leader of National Salvation Front):

“The 2014 constitution is the constitution of revolution, we believe it is the only legitimate constitution for Tunisians. The 2014 constitution has always been and will always remain a symbol of resistance. Tunisians demand to return to the 2014 constitution, the only legitimate constitution for Tunisia.”