WUNRN
It is not so often we can read or
hear the plight and the tenacious spirit of the widows of killed
human rights and social justice defenders.When a widow speaks out, she puts
herself and her family at risk.Through her continued mourning and sadness, she
may choose courageous activism...
By Karima Bennoune - 25 July 2014
On the first anniversary of Mohamed Brahmi’s
assassination, his widow denounces fundamentalism and terrorism in
Mbarka Brahmi at her
Mbarka Brahmi, 47, mother of five, has become
a key spokesperson for the fight against fundamentalism and terror in
At the time of his murder, Mohamed Brahmi was a member of the Tunisian Constituent Assembly, the body elected after the revolution in October 2011 to draft a new constitution. Born, like the revolution, in the Sidi Bouzid region, and from a poor, rural background, Mohamed Brahmi studied economics before founding what was meant to be a socialist and secularist “People’s Movement” in 2011. He later resigned from the movement after other leaders drifted close to Ennahdha, the then-ruling fundamentalist party. Both a left-leaning Nasserist and a devout Muslim, he launched a new party called the Popular Current in July 2013 shortly before his death.
Brahmi’s killing, in earshot of his wife and
children, sent shock waves across
Karima Bennoune: Why was Mohamed Brahmi targeted, in your opinion?
Mbarka Brahmi: He was targeted both for reasons linked to Tunisian
politics and to international relations. In
The portrait of Mohamed Brahmi which hangs in the living
room of the family's
KB: In your opinion, what was the
significance of the assassination of your husband for
MB: The killing of Chokri Belaid in February 2013 was a trial run. People went out to protest afterwards, but once they buried Chokri Belaid they went back to their homes with sadness. However, with the assassination of Mohammed Brahmi, Tunisians knew that a serial drama of assassinations had begun. It was as though a catastrophe hit the country. How can those who say they are defending Islam, kill a Haj who prays with them?
My husband's assassination was a wake up
call. The struggle is not between Muslims and non-Muslims, nor is it between
believer and non-believer. Islam is our religion, our culture. However, our
Islam is a moderate and a particular Islam. In
Tunisians knew that they were all targeted by
the assassination of Mohammed Brahmi. This explains why on 25 July 2013 people
flocked in the thousands to protest in
KB: Some suspects have been arrested in relation to Mr. Brahmi’s assassination. What is your reaction to this?
MB: One of those arrested was my neighbour, a young marginalized guy who did not finish his education. After the revolution he joined the Salafi movement like a lot of other young people who were brainwashed and bought. He is just someone who was hired and does not have any interest in killing Mohamed. Other parties have an interest in this. I want them to be prosecuted. However, there has been a big cover up. I know the murderers will not be discovered any time soon, because the group behind the killer is the one investigating, and is protected by the Tunisian state.
Twelve days before Mohamed’s assassination, the Ministry of the Interior received a document from the American security services warning that he was targeted, but they closed their eyes and left him to his murderers. Usually when such a document is received it is immediately forwarded to the head of government and the President. In this case, it was as if they did not know anything. One year later, there still has been no investigation about the letter. I want the truth.
KB: To be clear, do you hold Ennahdha, which was in power at the time, responsible for your husband’s murder, whether directly or indirectly?
MB: Yes. I was sure that Ennahdha was
involved in the crime even before Mohamed took his last breath, while we were
transporting him to the hospital. I was saying, “Ennahdha killed him.” Indeed,
Ennahdha created a hostile environment. Their deputies in the Constituent
Assembly – like Sahbi Atig
and Habib Ellouze
- were inciting people against him. Mohamed went on hunger strike at the
Constituent Assembly with fellow deputy Ahmed Al Khaskoussi for 24 days in
support of socio-economic demands in Sidi Bouzid. They were harassed on the
Assembly premises by Ennahdha deputies. Followers of Ennahdha even used
violence against my husband in
KB: In the west, the Ennahdha party is often labelled “moderate.” How do you feel when you hear this?
MB: I laugh at those who think it is a moderate party - a moderate party that sometimes happens to kill people in front of their own homes. If this is modernism, what is terrorism? For me, the Ennahdha party is a terrorist party which violates the integrity of the citizen, and toys with the feelings of the people and with their Islam.
KB: Can you describe what happened on 25 July 2013?
MB: It was completely quiet outside, because
it was a national holiday - Republic Day. It was Ramadan. Mohamed went out the
front door and I heard shooting. I found him lying on his side, covered in
blood. I saw the culprit walking calmly away from the scene toward a motorbike
where a second man waited. I screamed to Adnane and Balkis, my oldest children
who are in their twenties, to come outside, saying that they had killed him,
Ennahdha had killed him. When my children arrived, Mohamed was still moving his
eyes. So Adnane and Balkis held him and said, “Dad, say the shahada” (the
profession of Muslim faith).
KB: You became an activist after this tragic event, even speaking to thousands of protestors in front of the Constitutent Assembly. What has your life been like in the year since?
MB: It was the most difficult year in my life. In my family, I became both the mother and the father. With respect to my presence on the political scene, I do not like being under the spotlight, especially while some of my kids are still young. However, I have to make sure people hear from me what Ennahdha has done to me. All the families that lost their children should be able to speak, and they were from the poorer classes. They should be given the opportunity to be heard because new elections are being organized in October and November 2014. This way Tunisians will know - those who voted for Ennahda last time - that they gave their vote to a gang of killers, and they will protect the country in the next election by not voting for this gang.
What I am asking for is that the world know
that Ennahdha targeted all sectors of society. It targeted citizens such as Lotfi Naghdh
in the south. It targeted the army. It targeted the security forces.
KB: You received death threats yourself last spring. Has this continued?
MB: No, it did not continue. However, to be under threat does not require that you receive threats every day. The state is supposed to provide protection, and there are guards in front of the house. But, they come one day and then do not return for ten days.
KB: What is your analysis of the
struggle against terrorism in
MB: Terrorism is now embedded in
There should be an international day to
combat terrorism. In
MB: I wish for peace and security for