Association Shams

Association Shams is a Tunisian organization for LGBT rights, campaigning for sexual minority rights in Tunisia. The non-governmental, non-profit organisation derives its name from the Sufi mystic Shams Tabrizi and its logo is made up of two whirling dervishes.[1]

Foundation and guidelines

Association Shams was legally registered under Tunisian law on May 18, 2015.[1] The focus of the organisation is the decriminalisation of homosexuality. On their website, they published a set of other goals such as:[2]

Radio Shams

In 2017, Radio Shams was created to help give LGBT voices in North Africa more representation. The founder was sent 4000 death threats within the first two weeks of operation.[3]

Incidents and controversy

The existence of Association Shams has been received with scepticism by Tunisians. Several public figures were opposed to the existence of an LGBT activist group in the country.[4] Homosexuality is still criminalized under Tunisian law. As stated by the Article 230 of the Tunisian Penal code, homosexuality is a punishable crime and people accused of it can face up to three years in prison.[5] The authorities accuse people with sodomy without proper evidence and oblige them to undergo anal tests that have no medical relevance.[6]

In December 2015, a controversy took place in several local media outlets and following that a case was filed against the organisation by Kamel Hedhili, the head of state litigation.[7] The government stated that Shams is violating the association law of the country and that it deviated from its main course.[8] The activities of the NGO were suspended for a whole month starting from January 4, 2016 by a decree of the Tunisian Court of First Instance.[9]

One of the founders and leading LGBT activists of the organisation, Ahmed Ben Amor, faced harassments and death threats upon openly sharing his views and campaigning for the NGO on Tunisian TV.[10]

Following the controversy supermarkets and public spaces banned the entrance of homosexuals to their premises. The sign « No Homosexuals allowed » showed up in different neighbourhoods around the capital city Tunis.[11]

References
  1. "Controversy in Tunisia over new gay association". The Arab Weekly. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  2. "A propos de nous". shams. 2017-03-26. Archived from the original on 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  3. "Tunisia's First Queer Radio Station plays on despite mounting death threats". Huffpost South Africa.
  4. "Is homophobia at all-time high in Tunisia?". Al-Monitor. 2016-05-04. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  5. Lavin, Talia (2014-12-11). "Tunisia's New Gay Rights Fight". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  6. Goldstein, Eric (2016-02-09). "Tunisia: LGBT Rights Five Years After the Tunisian Uprising". Human Rights Watch (Washington, DC). Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  7. "Tunisia: LGBT Group Suspended". Human Rights Watch. 2016-01-16. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  8. "Frontline defenders".
  9. "Tunisie : Suspension des activités de l'association pour les droits LGBT Shams". AWID. 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  10. "Tunisia-Live". Archived from the original on 2016-08-25.
  11. "'No homosexuals allowed': Tunis stores put up homophobic signs". The France 24 Observers. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
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