BREAKING NEWS

Salafis attack Tunisia hotel for serving alcohol

By REUTERS

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 18:21

TUNIS - Dozens of hardline Salafi Muslims attacked a hotel in Sidi Bouzid, birthplace of Tunisia's revolution, because it was serving alcohol, the hotel's owner said on Tuesday.

It was believed to be the first such attack on a hotel in the North African country, which relies heavily on tourism.

"About 100 Salafis attacked the hotel on Monday night and smashed all its contents. They entered the rooms and damaged furniture and smashed bottles of alcohol," Jamil Horcheni, the owner of the hotel, told Reuters.

He said ultra-conservative Islamists had threatened to attack his hotel in May if he did not stop selling alcohol.

Tunisia, whose authoritarian president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, was overthrown by a popular uprising last year, now has an elected Islamist-led government. There have been several attacks on cultural and tourist sites since the revolt.

In May, Salafis staged an anti-alcohol protest in Sidi Bouzid, 300 km (186 miles) west of the capital Tunis, demanding that hotels and bars be relocated outside the city.

S&P cuts Israel's long-term ratings to A+ from AA-

By REUTERS

04/19/2024 02:05 AM

Russian air defence intercepts 25 airborne targets over Belgorod region

By REUTERS

04/19/2024 02:03 AM

US officials say Ukraine will get weapons in weeks once aid approved

By REUTERS

04/19/2024 01:07 AM

Saudi Arabia placed this condition on normalization with Israel

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/18/2024 10:34 PM