U.S. Media Quiet on Tunisian Hunger Strike, Loud on 'Democracy'
The story from Al Jazeera concerns Tunisian opposition figures, including the sister of former Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi, joining a hunger strike for jailed politician Jawhar Ben Mbarek, whose health is reportedly deteriorating. Mbarek is just one of several critics of President Kais Saied arrested in a recent crackdown. The U.S. State Department called these arrests a 'disturbing trend' back
in early 2023, but the outrage has waned. One might wonder where the usual drumbeat for 'human rights' is when the recipient of American military aid—$19.6 million approved for Tunisia in 2024 alone, according to the U.S. State Department—is the one cracking down. Suddenly, the nuanced reality of a 'fragile democracy' (a common media euphemism) becomes more palatable than a clear condemnation. It
appears some countries' internal affairs are more 'disturbing' than others, depending on who's signing the checks or what geopolitical chess piece is being moved.