Tunisians protest against return of militants
Hundreds of people have gathered outside Tunisia's parliament to protest against letting radical militants who fought overseas return to the country.
"No to freedom for [radical militant] groups!" protesters chanted.
Organizers said 1,500 people attended the rally, where banners in front of the parliament building in Tunis read, "Close the doors to terrorism," and "No tolerance, no return." Protesters waved Tunisian flags and sang the national anthem.
"For us, they are not Tunisians. They are awful people," Faten Mejri, one of the protesters said.
It was held on the same day authorities said they had arrested three alleged militants connected to the suspected Berlin Christmas market attacker, Anis Amri. Tunisian security forces have arrested three suspected militants after uncovering their links to Amri, the Tunisian national believed responsible for the Berlin Christmas market attack that killed 12 people, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.
Amri's nephew was among the three men and he had been in touch by social media messaging with Amri, the ministry said.
Amri was killed on Friday by Italian police after he pulled a gun on them during a routine search. The three were between the ages of 18 and 27 and had been active around Amri's hometown of Oueslatia, central Tunisia. The nephew had been communicating with Amri about declaring allegiance to Daesh and had also sent him money using a false name, it said.
Protesters slammed Rached Ghannouchi, head of the En-Nahda party, also known as the Renaissance Party, who has in the past supported the idea of allowing Tunisian radical militants who "repent" and renounce violence to return home.
President Beji Caid Essebsi said earlier this month that Tunisia would refuse to pardon Tunisians who fight for radical militant organizations.
"Many of them want to return, and we can't prevent a Tunisian from returning to his country," he told reporters, "but we will be vigilant."
Following a storm of criticism in the press and on social media, on Dec. 15 President Essebsi told Tunisian local television that "we will not be indulgent with the terrorists."
More than 5,000 Tunisians are fighting for militant groups abroad, according to a U.N. working group on mercenaries.
On Friday evening, the country's Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub told parliament 800 Tunisian nationals who had fought for extremist groups abroad had since returned to the country. Tunisia says at least 800 Tunisian militants are under surveillance since returning home after fighting in Syria, Iraq and Libya.
Since its 2011 revolution Tunisia has faced repeated militant attacks, killing more than 100 soldiers and policemen, as well as about 20 civilians and 59 foreign tourists, according to official figures.
"No to freedom for [radical militant] groups!" protesters chanted.
Organizers said 1,500 people attended the rally, where banners in front of the parliament building in Tunis read, "Close the doors to terrorism," and "No tolerance, no return." Protesters waved Tunisian flags and sang the national anthem.
"For us, they are not Tunisians. They are awful people," Faten Mejri, one of the protesters said.
It was held on the same day authorities said they had arrested three alleged militants connected to the suspected Berlin Christmas market attacker, Anis Amri. Tunisian security forces have arrested three suspected militants after uncovering their links to Amri, the Tunisian national believed responsible for the Berlin Christmas market attack that killed 12 people, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.
Amri's nephew was among the three men and he had been in touch by social media messaging with Amri, the ministry said.
Amri was killed on Friday by Italian police after he pulled a gun on them during a routine search. The three were between the ages of 18 and 27 and had been active around Amri's hometown of Oueslatia, central Tunisia. The nephew had been communicating with Amri about declaring allegiance to Daesh and had also sent him money using a false name, it said.
Protesters slammed Rached Ghannouchi, head of the En-Nahda party, also known as the Renaissance Party, who has in the past supported the idea of allowing Tunisian radical militants who "repent" and renounce violence to return home.
President Beji Caid Essebsi said earlier this month that Tunisia would refuse to pardon Tunisians who fight for radical militant organizations.
"Many of them want to return, and we can't prevent a Tunisian from returning to his country," he told reporters, "but we will be vigilant."
Following a storm of criticism in the press and on social media, on Dec. 15 President Essebsi told Tunisian local television that "we will not be indulgent with the terrorists."
More than 5,000 Tunisians are fighting for militant groups abroad, according to a U.N. working group on mercenaries.
On Friday evening, the country's Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub told parliament 800 Tunisian nationals who had fought for extremist groups abroad had since returned to the country. Tunisia says at least 800 Tunisian militants are under surveillance since returning home after fighting in Syria, Iraq and Libya.
Since its 2011 revolution Tunisia has faced repeated militant attacks, killing more than 100 soldiers and policemen, as well as about 20 civilians and 59 foreign tourists, according to official figures.