Tunis, March 1, 2014 – Organisers of The New Arab Debates have expressed disappointment with the behaviour of several audience members at their latest session in Tunis this week which forced the team to stop the debate midway through the discussion after many refused to respect both the format and opposing views.
The televised debate, held on Thursday night at the Palais des Congres, descended into chaos when several in the charged audience began shouting slogans, hurling insults at each other and at both speakers and chanting the Tunisian national anthem.
Organisers had to stop the discussion for 15 minutes and resumed the debate only after the two panelists joined them in appealing for calm and order. Scuffles broke out among rival supporters outside the hall after the debate ended.
“Our event is meant to encourage real, open and fair dialogue where panelists are given equal time to present their views and members of the audience are allowed to express their views on the discussion and to question both panelists, ” said Tanya Sakzewski, the NAD executive producer. “Our debates are open to everyone and we need to provide a secure environment for all views to be heard”.
The debate was moderated by Egyptian television presenter Mai El Sherbiny and discussed the motion “Islamist parties have blown their chance for power in the Arab world”. Lazher Akremi , Spokesperson for the secular Nidaa Tounes argued for the motion against Noureddine Bhiri, former minister of justice and member of Ennahda Party.
“The attempt by several members in the audience to turn the debate into a political protest constituted a severe blow to responsible freedom of expression, one of the basic goals of the NAD,” said Sherbiny.
The third season of the NAD is funded by the Norwegian and British governments. The NAD was established to foster free speech and democratic accountability after the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt.
The debate will be transmitted for the third year on Deutsche Welle TV in Arabic along with its global and regional network of partners including Egypt’s ONTV, Ro’ya TV in Jordan, Hanibal in Tunisia, and Watan TV in Ramallah.