A mural in downtown Tunis in support of the #enazeda, or #metoo movement.
A mural in downtown Tunis in support of the #enazeda, or #metoo movement.
A mural in downtown Tunis in support of the #enazeda, or #metoo movement.
A mural in downtown Tunis in support of the #enazeda, or #metoo movement.

Facebook fostered Tunisia's #MeToo movement. Then the trolling started


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The screen shot of a young woman’s Facebook Messenger account showed an all-too-familiar monologue playing out starting with a man sending a direct message saying “Slm” (hi). No reply. A month later, “slm,” then “slm” again the next day. When that opening gambit failed to provoke a response, the man sent a photo of him exposing himself to the woman.

Those messages, along with two similar salvos sent to the same recipient, are among the thousands of first hand accounts of sexual harassment and violence Tunisian women and LGBTQ people have shared on the #EnaZeda or #MeToo Facebook page in recent months.

In 2019, Facebook helped usher in what feminists and women’s rights activists hoped would be the next great revolution in North Africa: holding men to account for sexual harassment and violence. But two years later, the platforms where women have turned most often to share their stories have become the leading tool for sexual harassment.

The #EnaZeda movement was born shortly after a newly-elected legislator was caught on video performing an obcene act outside a girls’ school in the autumn of 2019 (a charge he denied). After the video was posted online, personal testimonies of sexual harassment and violence from women around the country streamed onto social media.

Several feminist activists and organisations saw the need to corral those stories into a public forum where they could be amplified, and took to Facebook to do so.

A group was set up to discuss topics ranging from street harassment to sexism in politics, and a page dedicated to publishing the personal testimonies of physical, psychological, digital, verbal and financial abuse suffered by Tunisian women now has more than 65,000 followers.

A recent study carried out by the Centre of Research, Studies, Documentation and Information About Women (Crédif) found that 80 per cent of Tunisian women had suffered online harassment, usually in the form of explicit, badgering or violent messages on Facebook. Nearly one in seven women have been called a "whore`”.

The deluge of stories from women across the country has instigated a sea change in the discourse around women's rights and safety in Tunisia. But a recent surge in online harassment has made Facebook increasingly dangerous for women.

"They receive unwanted, harassing messages or photos,” explained Sonia Ben Miled, one of the founders of the #EnaZeda Facebook group and member of Aswaat Nissa, a women’s rights organisation.

The #EnaZeda page has published hundreds of screenshots of harassing Facebook Messenger interactions, often leaving the perpetrator’s name and profile in full view of its large and active audience.

Tunisian protesters shout slogans and carry placards during a protest against the government in Tunis,Tunisia. EPA
Tunisian protesters shout slogans and carry placards during a protest against the government in Tunis,Tunisia. EPA

The page does not independently verify the reports, and only redacts the names of the victims, and any graphic images.

Tunisia’s women are not alone in their struggle to access social networks safely.

A recent survey in 22 countries showed an alarming surge in online abuse against girls and women.

The survey, conducted by Plan International, found that 58 per cent of the more than 14,000 young women and teens they followed had been victims of cyber harassment.

Facebook was the leading platform for those attacks, with 39 per cent of respondents saying they’d encountered harassment on the platform.

Covid-19 has only amplified the situation.

Tunisia went through months of lockdown last spring; the 8pm curfew, which has been in place since the lockdown lifted, will be moved to 10pm beginning on Monday. With movement restricted, women are spending more time online to stay connected with their friends and families, but so are their attackers.

“We see more girls and women who are harassed on social media, because everyone is trapped in their house," explained Ben Miled. Abusers follow a similar pattern online as they do offline, seeking to isolate and humiliate women.

International Women's Day in pictures

That isolation is felt particularly by women who are already struggling through lockdown, and often unemployment. With the lockdown stressing an already flagging economy, nearly a quarter of Tunisian women are currently unemployed.

While some of the women who share their stories with #EnaZeda receive messages from men they don’t know, many are harassed by acquaintances, neighbours or even relations. Those messages can often turn into threats of physical violence when the recipient ignores the sender.

“It’s a dangerous situation because it is difficult to do anything about it,” Ben Miled said.

In 2017, Tunisia’s parliament passed Law 58, a landmark piece of legislation on violence against women. The sweeping law covers everything from street harassment to marital rape, a first in the Arab world. But one component is conspicuously absent: online harassment.

Tunisian women demonstrate on March 6 in Tunis against violence against women. AFP
Tunisian women demonstrate on March 6 in Tunis against violence against women. AFP

The absence of an explicit clause on cyber violence leaves cases to be assessed at a judge’s discretion. As a result, some 95 per cent of those who have been abused do not press charges in Tunisia, according to the Crédif study.

Najima Kousri Labidi, a founder of the #EnaZeda Facebook page and a women’s rights activist hopes pressure will work to change the attitudes around the law and the role it could play in combating digital harassment.

“We haven’t heard about any cases of harassment being condemned, even though the law has existed for three years now,” she explained. “We want to put pressure on judges so they will use the law.”

Though sexual harassment is in clear violation of Facebook’s community standards, the company, which did not respond to a request for comment, has long struggled to combat sexual harassment on its platforms (Facebook owns Instagram and Whatsapp, two other leading platforms for harassment, according to the Plan International Study).

For Ikram Ben Said, another member of Aswaat Nissa, Facebook’s drawbacks don’t outweigh its advantages. She notes that while women often feel isolated and invisible when they are harassed online, “the sense of solidarity that we have witnessed during this movement resists invisibility”.

UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
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Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
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MATCH INFO

Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')

Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam

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2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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The five pillars of Islam

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2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Remaining fixtures
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A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

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Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
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Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UK%20record%20temperature
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Ahmed Raza

UAE cricket captain

Age: 31

Born: Sharjah

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T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28

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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

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Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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6.30pm Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer).          

7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner  Galaxy Road, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner  Al Modayar, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner  Gundogdu, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m

Winner  Lady Parma, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar

10pm Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner Zaajer, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

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Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

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Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

BULKWHIZ PROFILE

Date started: February 2017

Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: E-commerce 

Size: 50 employees

Funding: approximately $6m

Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait

box

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Letstango.com

Started: June 2013

Founder: Alex Tchablakian

Based: Dubai

Industry: e-commerce

Initial investment: Dh10 million

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month

The five pillars of Islam
Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

Results:

6.30pm: Maiden | US$45,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres

Winner: Tabarak, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap | $175,000 (Turf) | 3,200m

Winner: Dubhe, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m

Winner: Estihdaaf, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor

8.15pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,800m

Winner: Nordic Lights, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 | $450,000 (D) | 1,900m

Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

9.25pm: Handicap | $175,000 (T) | 1,200m

Winner: Mazzini, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

10pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,400m.

Winner: Mubtasim, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

THE BIO

Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13 

Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

(All games 4-3pm kick UAE time) Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg v Mainz , Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke , Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ogram%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Kouatly%20and%20Shafiq%20Khartabil%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20On-demand%20staffing%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2050%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMore%20than%20%244%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%2C%20Aditum%20and%20Oraseya%20Capital%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: Audi e-tron

Price, base: From Dh325,000 (estimate)

Engine: Twin electric motors and 95kWh battery pack

Transmission: Single-speed auto

Power: 408hp

Torque: 664Nm

Range: 400 kilometres

Qosty Byogaani

Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny

Four stars