Zawaya

Saloua Charfi

Saloua Charfi is a Tunisian professor of communications at the Institute of the Press and Information Sciences at the University of Manouba. She is also a journalist and contributes to several newspapers. Her interests revolve around information technology, human rights, media and politics. Much of her work and her writing have focused on improving women’s legal conditions in Muslim and Arab states, as well as human rights in general.

Opinions by this panelist

Are the principles of usefulness and satisfying public needs still respected in media practices?

In the coverage of the recent swine flu pandemic, the media tended to focus more on the number of victims than on prevention and symptoms. We noticed that in headlines that often announce first the number of deaths, even when… more

The necessity of an epistemological break in education

The baccalaureate exam does not only represent the end of a course of studies, but it is also a test of effectiveness for the educational policy in terms of curriculum, knowledge and pedagogical methods. The baccalaureate had been able -… more

Tv reality shows: selling dreams, not talent

Is it possible for a show that relies on fiction despite claiming being based on reality, and which seeks quick gains through excitement, to produce creativity? To answer this question, we should look at the industry of reality TV shows,… more

The power of social networks lies in their ability to create an atmosphere reflecting the feelings of the moment

Social networks, especially Twitter and Facebook, which are not older than three years, are among the most important means of communication and news sources. Facebook is the fifth most visited website in the world, and the number of its members… more

Prevention should be both political and social

The Algerian proposal that suggests putting an end to the practice of paying ransoms is raising humanitarian, political and practical issues. Is it permissible to gamble with the lives of hostages for an uncertain win in the long term? Britain… more

Acting upon education and the media for a new interpretation of the qur'an

If we start from the rarely contested fact that the Qur'an is a text that is open to multiple and different interpretations, we can then agree with R. Barthes "that the text does not reflect reality, but it reflects its… more

Tunisia ought to adopt a new media policy

In Tunisia, streets remain dreadfully deserted for nearly two hours after breaking the fast; during this time, Tunisians watch two national soap operas. It has often been the case in Ramadan, as the national TV channel has always managed to… more

Rural areas are certainly lucky for not having traditional welfare infrastructures

It is unfortunate to see our farmers give up on the good baskets made of alpha or wicker, in order to use those hideous plastic bags that choke nature and stick to it like a second skin. That being said,… more

Unfair competition against the maliki rite

The holy city of Kairouan, in Tunisia, hosted a Maghreb seminar on the Maliki rite on the 16th and 17th of March 2010. This conference is the second event dedicated to the main theological school in the Maghreb, after the… more

The media: showing more love and less blood

The media do not create information only. They also - and above all - create values that are communicated through pure information. The media are an effective means to instill new behavior and attitudes that fit easily into the dominant… more

Cultural barriers and mistrust

A band has recently played to a packed house in Tunis; tickets were mostly purchased online, and quickly sold out. In Tunisia, online purchasing and payment are very recent. There is a variety of websites for clothing, makeup and pastries;… more

Online terrorism

The Tunisian network on Facebook looked like a country that was devastated by a terrorist attack. For some people, this was September 11on the internet. Some cyber terrorists had declared "online jihad" against those who have opinions that are different… more

When teachers are depreciated

In Tunisia, corporal punishment in school is prohibited by law, under penalty of imprisonment for the guilty teachers committing it. Nevertheless, students allow themselves to assault their teachers. The observatory of the teachers' union -founded for this purpose - has… more

Reinforcing the sense of citizenship

The striking thing about Kampala's double attack claimed by Somalia's Islamist al-Shabab militia, which is close to al-Qaeda, is the fact that it is the first operation carried by al-Shabab outside the borders of Somalia. This action is a logical… more

Altering the social system through the law

August 13, 1956, was marked by the issuance of the Code of Personal Status in Tunisia. This code was not accepted back then by the conservatives who thought it was an infringement of the Quran, especially regarding the abolition of… more

Rejection of dead foreign languages

Over the past ten years, teachers have started warning the government and public opinion in Tunisia about the poor performance of students in learning the French language in particular, and not foreign languages in general. While the French language is… more

The global repercussions of terrorism require a global approach to fight it

28 Mauritanian members of AQIM escaped from the Sahara camps to turn themselves over to the authorities. To encourage other young recruits to defect from this organization, a threefold approach is needed, covering the security, psycho-educational and social levels. Mauritania… more

Salutary self-revolution

A young unemployed man from a deprived Tunisian region committed suicide on the 17th of last month, by setting himself on fire for being ignored by local officials. This incident sparked public uproar in Tunisia, and the anger has been… more

Democracy is not confined to the electoral process

International habits, customs, and law stipulate that governments ought to respect the existing commitments, treaties and agreements made by their predecessors. Governments may change, but the State as a moral entity symbolizing the people remains, and agreements are made on… more

Supervisory structures should establish an online presence

New technologies mean a new culture and a new generation. In Tunisia, young people watch television, listen to the radio, read newspapers and make new friends online. They even started a revolution two months ago, thanks to the internet. It… more

Holistic approach led by algeria

The Tunisian and Libyan revolutions are a stroke of luck for AQIM. Since the outbreak of the Tunisian revolution, AQIM had announced its intention to take full advantage of the security slackness to establish itself in the country in a… more

Useful dialogue

Some people regard interfaith dialogue as a useless luxury. Others consider it a trap for values, as each religion believes other religions are not revealed truths, and that only its own faith is a source of salvation for humanity. Hence… more

Building a democratic culture requires stability

The recognition of the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) by the international community is vital to strengthen the legality of the new Libyan authority. When a legitimate power is illegal, it remains fragile and prone to instability. Tunisia's example, after… more

Nessma's case: a conflict that is more political than religious

To understand the tension stirred in Tunisia by Pan-Maghreb TV channel Nessma after broadcasting the Iranian film "Persepolis", we should note its particular Tunisian context. The conflict is part of the polarization experienced by Tunisians, amidst the election campaigns of… more

Islam: a religion with no church

After the relatively recent emergence of religious political movements in the Maghreb, political discourses are polarized by Islamists and conservatives on the one hand, and modernists and liberals on the other. The former believe that Sharia must be the sole,… more