[View the story "Eyes on Tunisia" on Storify ]Eyes on Tunisia Argument over silver medalist's Olympic uniform reflects national debate. Storified by The Stream · Wed, Aug 15 2012 15:17:48
Though Ghribi has received an outpouring of congratulations on her Facebook
page , an August 6 post critical of the Tunisian Olympian was widely circulated online. France 24
reported that the post featured a picture of Ghribi in her racing gear with the caption:
“Tunisia does not need medals that come from women who are uncovered and naked. We should strip the nationality of she who has dishonoured Tunisia with her nudity and debauchery,”Medal-winning Tunisian fuels women’s rights debate - TUNISIA - FRANCE 24
The original post has since been
removed from Facebook, but not before it received over 1,000 comments and was shared more than 280 times. Another Facebook
post below, which screenshots the original and highlights its caption, has received a wide variety of feedback.
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Netizen Maria Dora agreed with the original poster's critique of Ghribi: "Really, admin...we are a Muslim country and we are not honoured by a medal that was won by someone dressed like that".
Vraaiimenettt admiin entaa ell met5alleef w bara ab3eth martek ou o5tekk yart3ouu hakeka 9oodaw ell 3aleml el kol w fell e5err ya3touk midaliiiya 7né bleed mosalma w matcharefnach midaliiiya jaybetha wahda lebbsa hakaka Maria Dora
Others took a stronger tone against the uniform. Mohamed commented, "She's going to hell if she doesn't repent".
جهنم وبئس المصير إن لم تتبMohamed Boussama
And Nacer asked, "On judgment day would you still care about honouring your country?"
يوم الحساب قلو نحب نشرّف بلاديNacer Neo
Moussa commented, "Personally, I would cut her feet off...to hell the medal that could bring us shame."
berjoulia njou lerrassmi ..chkoun fikom yardha okhtou tejri fi 9alsoun gouddem 50 mille spectateur fi stade w des millions 3la télé? li yardha chey hadha ijawebni...Moussa Benboubaker
Some focused on the perceived responsibility of male relatives for their female relatives' appearance. Abdelaziz says below, "The girl is walking around in her underwear and you're saying we should look past that. Let's see whether you people would send your sisters to run like that".
étofla t7awés bkalsoun we 9alék t5alof méla kol wé7éd ylabés o5to kalsoun we yab3athha téjriAbdelaziz Hila
Tarek echoed the sentiment: "Hey, admin, would you want your sister to wear that outfit and win a medal? How about your daughter?"
ya admin tardha o5tek telbes hekka w tjib midaliya willa bentek !!!!!! chay rabi ifarej 3likTarek Séfi
Maryouma challenged the commenters defending Ghribi: "Whoever wants his sister to wear underwear and run in the streets in front of everyone should show us his manhood right now. Who dares to say yes to that? Bunch of cowards".
elli y7eb o5tou telbess 9alsoun w tejri fel chara3 kifha w 9oddem sa7afa w nes tetferrej : 5alli yweerina rjoulitou w tafette7 mte3ou !!! trah echkoun yet9addem !!?? ;) ya joubenaaMaryouma Rim
One comment from Oussema received thirteen likes from other Facebook users. He says, "The problem stems from her father and brother who agreed to let her go to the Olympics dressed like that. They will never go to heaven".
athéka yetsama 3béd t5af rabi el mochékla fi 5ouha we bouha li ba3thinha tal3éb ! lé yad5olou el janata dayouth ! 7ormét 3lihom el janaOussema Sammou
Other netizens jumped to Ghribi's defence. Below, Mayssa responds to previous commenters: "You are not her guardian! If you don't like it then close your eyes. She honoured her country whether you like it or not".
Belek mouleha enti ! Mesh 3ajbek saker 3inik! Heya hazet 3lam bledha 7abit wala krahet ! Mayssa Mamoun
Youba called for tolerance from Tunisians: "She has the right to wear whatever she wants: underwear or whatever she is free. She is the one that will be judged not you. Who are you to deprive her from the Tunisian nationality? Tunisia is a country that embraces all religions and practises".
تطلع في سترينغ في سليب في مش عارف شنوا حرة يا خويا وكان مش تتحاسب هي إلي مش تتحاسب مش هو ، و بنى صفة يقول نسحب الجنسية التونسية منها ؟ تونس فيها مسلمين ومسيحين ويهود ، سبحان الله حرة شتعمل كان كلامي غالط قولولييوبا أون ديركت
Bochra lamented the pressure placed on Ghribi: "I have pity on Tunisia. She [Habiba] suffers from a hierarchy between Tunisians, herself, and the shame for what she wears because each has her responsibility. It is [awful] to see this type of advice".
j'ai pitié de la tunisie , elle souffre d'une hierarchie entre les tunisiens , eux même , c ça la honte po ce qu'elle porte parce que a chacun sa responsailité , c la merde de voir un tel genre d'avis :((Bochra Arbi
Many believe that the critiques are coming from those
who are supportive of the current ruling party, Ennahda, or with Salafist factions within the country. In an interview with the radio station Shems FM, Tunisian Assembly member Brahim Kassas jokingly
made the following statement: "The underpants of Habiba Ghribi have honoured us... What have (Ennahda MPs') underpants done for us?" Ennahda has repeatedly stated its commitment to women's rights during recent constitutional debates.
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Facebook user Loula
responded to Minister Kassas' comment: "There it is, a man who understands Islam. Women, men we are all equal according to God's laws".
Loula Lola · S’abonner · 172 abonné(e)s VOILA UN HOMME QUI COMPREND L'ISLAM .....FEMMES HOMMES NS SOMMES TOUS EGAUX ..SELON LES LOIS DIVINES....Brahim Gassas: "The pants of Habiba Ghribi honors us"
The comments on Ghribi's appearance came shortly after the passage of a controversial constitutional amendment. The amendment
refers to women as "men's associate" and additionally acknowledges them as complementary to men. The amendment was passed by 12 of 20 members of the Tunisian Commission of Rights and Liberties on August 2.
Demonstrators rallied against the new amendment on August 13. The celebratory marches that typically take place on Tunisia's Women's Day instead focused on defending equality between men and women.
The sign below reads, "Equality between men and women is the foundation of the Republic".
#manif #13août #tunis l'égalité entre l'homme et la femme est le fondement de la République #CNPL http://pic.twitter.com/ivBEdokAhajoura74
"Women's day is just a day, women freedom is every day" #Tunisia "@Khalilbm: #13août @chematriki http://pic.twitter.com/DVTRmqWy"weddady
The sign below reads: "This woman is dangerous, she has rights!"
Une des pancartes du #13aout http://pic.twitter.com/EkM8TNI4Emna EL HAMMI
This video from International Business Times puts the Women's Day march in context of recent events.
Mass demonstration over women's rights in Tunisiaibtimesuk
Some
consider the conversation surrounding Ghribi's appearance to be indicative of larger debates over Tunisian women's rights. Defending Ghribi, Tunisian blogger Selim tweeted, "Habiba Ghribi, a nod to 'complementarity.'"
Tunisie- Habiba Ghribi, un clin d’oeil à la «complémentarité» http://j.mp/MpOdBDSelim
The French article linked above champions Ghribi as a new image for the collective vision of the Tunisian woman:
First Tunisian woman Olympic medalist, she became a symbol in a few hours for Tunisian Internet users who resent the notion of "woman complementary" proposed to the Assembly.Tunisia-Ghribi Habiba, a nod to the "complementarity" - Tawa fi Tunis
Upon receiving her medal, Ghribi claimed the achievement for all Tunisians.
"This medal is for all the Tunisian people, for Tunisian women, for the new Tunisia"- Habiba GhribiMuslim Women in SPORTS: Tunisian Silver Medalist fueling Political Movement with her "underpants"
