Tunisian major slams Ennahda for shrine fire

The mayor of Tunisian city Sidi Bou Said has announced he will file a case against the leader of the country’s ruling Ennahda party, following recent statements about the burning of a famous shrine in the city. Ennahda leader Rachid Ghannouchi reportedly blamed the incident on an electrical problem. Sidi Bou Said’s major, Raouf Dakhlaoui, claimed the attack was the result of a “criminal action,” accusing Ennahda politicians of defending hard-line Sunni Salafists who he blamed for the blaze. Authorities managed to contain the fire, which is a popular heritage site in a city considered one of Tunisia’s chief tourist attractions. Residents of Sidi Bou Said protested outside as Culture Minister Mehdi Mabrouk and Tunisian President Moncef Marzouky visited the scene. Tunisia’s Human Rights Minister, Samir Delu, condemned the act, stressing the need to educate the public about the importance of shrines and saints to the country’s national heritage.