Tunisian Jews feel that they are in danger, the head of a Tunisian rights group said.

Three serious incidents against members of the Jewish community have occurred in recent weeks, Yamina Thabet, head of the Tunisian Association Supporting Minorities, told reporters Wednesday, the French news agency AFP reported.

Thabet visited the Tunisian island of Djerba, home to about 2,000 Jews and the El Ghriba synagogue, which dates back to 586 B.C. In 2002, terrorists blew up a vehicle near the synagogue, killing 21 people.

Antisemitism Notebook

Your weekly guide through the news and the noise of how rising antisemitism and disputes over how to address it are shaping American Jewish life.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“Tunisian Jews feel in danger, they are really afraid,” Thabet said.

She said that in recent weeks police interrupted a holiday meal over a stolen motorbike, ultimately firing tear gas at the gathering and leaving when a bus full of tourists approached.

In another incident, a man calling himself “the new Hitler” broke into a Jewish school and assaulted an adult supervisor in front of the young students and reportedly attacked two young girls.

Late last year an imam called openly for a “divine genocide” of the Jews in a sermon. Despite the fact that Incitement to racial hatred is punishable by up to three years in prison in Tunisia, the imam has not been prosecuted, according to the association.

Thabet denounced “harassment” by Tunisian security forces, and blamed the government, opposition parties, and the National Constituent Assembly for the attacks on Jews, according to Babnet Tunisie.

She said she believes some of the incidents involving government officials are an attempt to push Tunisian Jews to leave Tunisia, according to Babnet Tunisie.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount