Thousands attend Naguedh’s funeral

More than a thousand Tunisians attended Lotfi Naguedh’s funeral on Sunday, who was assassinated on Thursday in a pro-Ennahda demonstration in Tataouine, south Tunisia. The funeral was heavily guarded for fears of violence. Several political leaders attended the ceremony, including Call of Tunisia’s number two Taieb Bakouch, Republican Party leader Ahmed Naguib El Shabby and President of Constitutional Democratic Rally party Ahmed Ibrahim. Some Troika officials did not attend the funeral. Lotfi Naguedh’s family refused the government’s condolences. Taieb Bakouch said: “Lotfi Naguedh was a victim of a political assassination plot. This is dragging Tunisia in an atmosphere of political violence.” He blamed the Ennahda movement for the assassination. This latest incident could bring attention to the Revolution Protection Committee, which was established after the January 14 revolution in 2011. The committee’s role was to protect the citizens from violence and crime which accompanied the toppling of Ben Ali’s government. In a related context, locals and activists in Tataouine have protested against the rise of violence in Tunisia. They have called for the dissolution of the Revolution Protection Committee, which they claim has turned into militias threatening social peace. The Tunisian Prime Minister responded to these demands, confirming his willingness to dissolve all organisations threatening Tunisia’s political stability. The Republican Party and the Constitutional Democratic Rally Party have expressed the same opinion. A Revolution Protection Committee member told Arabstoday: “This Committee is the prize of the nation after the Revolution. This group was legally established according to a Presidential decree.”