In Tunisia, a prominent black journalist has become the target of a racist campaign following a 'controversial interview' regarding political governance and opposition in the North African state.
Khalifa Chouchène (Chouchane), a radio host on Diwan FM, addressed the state of opposition in his "Here Tunisia" program last week, criticising those opposing current president Kais Saied who seek foreign support for their causes.
"For instance, the Bar Association's statement represents genuine opposition from within the country, striving for more rights, unlike certain amateur groups who consistently seek support from embassies," Chouchène stated on 22 March.
"For these groups, if you don't advocate for Saied's downfall, you're not considered opposition. That's illogical," the journalist added.
Chouchène's remarks followed the Bar Association's — deemed pro-Saied — issuance of its first statement ever condemning "restrictions on freedoms and the repeated targeting of lawyers, journalists, and political activists, without regard for legal procedures."
Meanwhile, Chouchène's criticism of "amateur new groups" has been widely interpreted on social media as defamation of families of imprisoned political figures and opposition members who fled the country.
Across social networks, many have expressed disagreement with Chouchène, resorting to racist slurs and targeting his blackness rather than addressing his position.
On Thursday, 29 March, the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) strongly condemned the racist campaigns against Chouchène, "which only serve to foster a closed, biased, and populist society."
"SNJT expresses unwavering solidarity with our colleague journalist Khalifa Chouchène and warns of the significant psychological and professional impact these campaigns may have on him," the syndicate declared in a press release.
The Syndicate also reiterated the importance of diversity and debate in enriching public discourse.
Tunisia has witnessed a surge in anti-black racism since President Saied's speech last February, where he suggested that the influx of sub-Saharan migrants would alter the country's demographic makeup.
Despite the absence of official data, black Tunisians are estimated to constitute over 10% of the population. However, their representation in politics and the media remains minimal.
While Saied's speech has, to some extent, 'legitimised' racism in the country, Tunisia has long grappled with a history of slavery and anti-black prejudice.
Tunisia was the first country in the region to abolish slavery, outlawing the practice in 1846, 19 years ahead of the United States.
Nevertheless, many descendants of those enslaved still bear surnames like 'Atiq' or 'Chouchane' (meaning saved or liberated by) as part of their last names. Several people are fighting to remove this part of their names, which denotes slave ancestry.
Black Tunisians are descended from sub-Saharan Africans brought to Tunisia by slave traders. Activists say they face unequal job prospects and high levels of poverty and are often portrayed negatively in the media.
The Mnemty Association, which has been combatting racism in Tunisia since 2013, asserts that denial and a lack of accountability regarding the region's history of slavery often exacerbate Tunisia's issues with racism.