Crime: Wearing Hijab
This is a summary translation of a surveillance report (the picture above) found after the fall of Ben Ali’s regime in Tunisia. I found it through my friend Saudi reporter Hassan Al-Mustafa’s twitter feed.
I could have written a long detailed analysis of what is behind this, but I choose not to.The document speaks for itself.
3/21/2009
[Header]
Interior and Local Development Ministry
General Directorate of National Security
General Directorate of Public Security
SECRET
[handwritten] Ha 222
Report
Re: arrest of a girl wearing hijab “Rawda Ben Attiya”
Authority-based on: administrative order number 1120/SAM dated 10/06/2002 and message from General Directorate of Public Security number 1355 S A dated 11/27/2003
In accordance to the above mentioned directives whose purpose is to dutifully increase actions against the different forms of extremism in order to preserve our society’s character by:
-cracking down on followers of extremist religious groups;
- aborting their attempts to organize and operate through stricter controls of:
individuals wearing sectarian outfits, bearded men, individuals selling amulets, books, suspect books, activities of the Dawa & Tabligh group, mosques, prayers spaces and activities of Salafis.
It is my honor to inform you that on 03/18/2009 a girl wearing a hijab was detained. Her name is Rawda Ben Attiya born in the city of Seliana, residing in Beni Khiar. After investigation, [we learned] that she performed her religious duties regularly and she was informed that she needed to stop wearing the sectarian outfit [Hijab]. She acquiesced to said request.
An incident report was filed on the matter and archived [here], [the report’s] number is 179 on 02/18/2009
ID Card Data:
Rawda Ben Mohamed Ben Attiya, Tunisian citizen, born on 10/12/1985, female. Mother: Aisha Ben Gamra, married and residing in Beni Khiar
Filed for your information, the matter is still being pursued.
[illegible Signature]
54/ MN
Sent to Mr: R M A W N
[Stamp]
SECRET
Dekhnstan 