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Topless feminist protest arrives in Tunisia
Founded in 2008, Femen is a Ukrainian feminist group that organizes topless protests to advocate for women's liberation. Its activities have spread to other countries, with branches of the organization active in locations such as France and Germany. Earlier this month, Femen announced that they will open a branch in Tunisia to protest the oppression of women. Amina, the Tunisian woman who posed topless, said, "In July, I saw the photos of Femen and I started reading about them. I liked that their message was radical. It was the first time I saw women who are not posing naked for the camera but are angrily protesting. I contacted them and Skyped several times." She added that, "if I posted a picture of myself wearing a t-shirt with that slogan, it wouldn't have any impact. I want the message to be read this way. (A woman's) body is hers -- not her father's, her husband's or her brother's." Amina's photos caused controversy among Facebook users. Some admired her bravery, while others thought that her actions were immature and would only endanger the struggle for women's equality. Amina said, "I received death threats. But I don't think that what will happen to me can be worse than the situation of women. [...] When a woman takes off her shirt, that mean she has reached the breaking point and can't take it anymore." A video of a woman identifying herself as Amina's aunt and denouncing her niece's actions was posted yesterday on YouTube. She said, "Amina does not exist anymore for me. She is responsible for her acts, and we are devastated by what she did. Our family is educated and open-minded and we did everything we could for her. Her father has been crying and has been in a miserable state." She added: "I hope she pays for her actions. She does not represent her country or Tunisian women." Posted by: ryuge 2013-03-19 |
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