Tunesier demonstrieren für das Recht, nicht Fasten zu müssen

Für das Recht, nicht im Ramadan fasten zu müssen, fand jüngst in Tunesien eine Demonstration statt. Erst kürzlich waren zwei Männer verurteilt worden, die in einem Park öffentlich gegessen und geraucht hatten, auch wenn es kein Gesetz gibt, dass die Einhaltung des Ramadan vorschreibt:

Dozens of Tunisians demonstrated on Sunday to demand the right to eat and drink in public during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and to protest against non-fasters being arrested.

There is no law against eating or drinking in public during Ramadan, but every year the issue comes to the fore in the North African country.

Tunisia's constitution guarantees "freedom of belief and conscience," but the state is also the "guardian of religion".

Following a call by the "Mouch Bessif" (Arabic for "Not against our will") group, protesters in central Tunis shouted that "Individual freedom is guaranteed by the constitution!"

One man openly smoking a cigarette - this is also deemed unacceptable during Ramadan daylight hours - held a placard in French that asked: "Why does it bother you if you fast and I eat?"

Demonstrators also protested against the arrest of people who were not fasting.