'No to the Murderer': More Protests in Tunisia against MBS Visit
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – For a second day in a row, Tunisians took to the streets of the country's capital to express their anger at a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
Hundreds of people on Tuesday gathered in the iconic Habib Bourguiba Avenue in central Tunis to protest against the crown prince's arrival after reports of his involvement in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2, Al Jazeera reported.
The avenue was the scene of massive demonstrations more than seven years ago which toppled long-time ruler Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali. Ben Ali, who held power for 23 years, has been a fugitive in Saudi Arabia since 2011.
"I was here yesterday and I came here again to say 'No' to the murderer and criminal, Mohammad bin Salman," Said Arous, a prominent human rights activist, said, calling Khashoggi's killing "an appalling crime".
The crown prince - also known by his initials, MBS - arrived in Tunisia on Tuesday evening as part of a regional tour as he makes his way to the G20 summit set to take place in Argentina on Friday.
Arous said the crown prince's tour - his first time abroad since Khashoggi's killing - is aimed at whitewashing his image abroad amid an international outcry over the murder of the Washington Post columnist.
"We are here to underline our dignity, our national sovereignty and to say we are not for sale," said Arous.
"We don't need your oil barrels or your petrodollars. The free Tunisian people are not for sale," he added as if he was addressing MBS.
Protesters also denounced a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, where a four-year war has spawned the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
