Tunisian Youth Turns Protest into Symbol of Resistance After Pro-Palestine Pitch Invasion
Mohamed Amine Touihri’s arrest after waving the Palestinian flag and removing a Carrefour banner at a football match sparks nationwide outrage and raises questions about Tunisia’s stance on normalization.
Watan-sparked a wave of solidarity across social media after appearing in video clips during the Tunisia vs. Malawi match, where he stormed the pitch carrying a Palestinian flag. He then removed an advertising banner belonging to the French company Carrefour — known for its support of the Israeli occupation.
The incident, which quickly became a symbol of popular resistance, was met with a shocking security response. Security forces arrested, assaulted, and dragged the young man in front of the crowd — igniting public outrage, especially given that his actions were in support of the Palestinian cause and in rejection of normalization with Israel.
Social media platforms were flooded with footage of the assault and arrest, and Amine Touihri quickly became a youth symbol of freedom and popular defiance against normalization — at a time when Tunisia officially declares that “normalization is an unforgivable betrayal,” according to repeated statements by President Kais Saied.
From Protest to Symbol: Tunisia’s Youth vs. the Silence of Power
The real surprise came when Tunisia’s Public Prosecution ordered Amine’s detention pending investigation — only to later backtrack under public pressure and release him conditionally. Authorities also signaled the possibility of investigating the security officers responsible for his unjustified assault and detention.
The incident raises significant questions about the state’s official stance on boycott efforts and solidarity with Palestine — particularly as grassroots campaigns to boycott companies supporting the occupation gain widespread traction in Tunisian society.
Mohamed Amine Touihri has transformed from an ordinary young man into a national symbol of resistance at a time when repression and silencing of pro-Palestinian voices are increasing. So the question remains: Are young people being punished for rejecting occupation and raising the flag of the free? Or is the political reality seeking to silence every free voice in an era of Arab complicity?
