Hundreds of people took to the streets of the Tunisian capital on Sunday that marked the seventh anniversary of the start of the Arab Spring. The demonstrators marched in protest of poverty and unemployment. They were reportedly chanting "Work, Freedom, Dignity" — slogans similar to those that could be heard across the country at the times when President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown.
READ MORE: Tumult in Tunisia: Protesters, Police Clash As Unrest Enters Fourth Day (VIDEO)
The rally was peaceful as the authorities moved to tighten the security measures ahead of the event, according to AFP.
The protesters reportedly responded to the call of the coalition of activist groups to rally against the austerity measures the government had taken to reduce the budget deficit.
Crowds in #Tunis marking seventh anniversary of #Tunisia's revolution. Some pro-government protests, some anti-government, calling for end to austerity plans that prompted violent unrest last week. This group chanting in solidarity with #Palestinians pic.twitter.com/HlBysnaSbx
— Mark Lowen (@marklowen) 14 января 2018 г.
— Mourad Teyeb (@MouradTeyeb) 14 января 2018 г.
Tunisians have been staging protests across the country for the whole last week in response to the government’s move to raise taxes and social security contributions. So far, 800 people have been arrested.
The January 14 is deemed to be the official date for the beginning of the revolt in Tunisia despite the fact the unrest had started in the country earlier. On December 17, 2010, Tunisian merchant Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire in the city of Ben Arous, causing the events that were later called "Jasmine Revolution.”
READ MORE: Protests in Tunisia: Popular Movement or Foreign Meddling?
