Two hundred intellectuals and civil society activists, as well as some thirty associations, in the Maghreb and in the North African diaspora in Europe, have made public a petition denouncing the assassination attempt against Salman Rushdie, entitled ‘’We refuse to allow the crime to be committed in our name’’.

We, organisations, associations and independent personalities sharing with all humanity the universal values of life, equality between human beings, fundamental freedoms of peoples, groups and individuals without discrimination or exclusion;

Faced with the barbarity that befell the writer Salman Rushdie on 12 August 2022, thirty years after he was put to death by order of the Ayatollah Khomeini, on the grounds of blasphemy and violation of the sacred;

We hope that he will live and that his pen will not dry up.

We consider it our duty to denounce the odious aggression committed against him in the name of a disfigured Islam, which can only satisfy its bloodthirsty followers through hatred, blood, death and chaos.

We will not remain silent about these infamies committed in the name of Islam, a civilisational heritage common to all humanity, which admits neither mediator nor church. We refuse to mix our culture, our human values and our names with these furious people who sow fear and dishonour, silencing with the sword and crime any discordant voice, any free thought, any cultural creation, any innovative breath, any difference and diversity.

We have fought this same battle in our countries so that freedom of conscience, thought, religion, worship, expression, literary, cultural and artistic creation are recognised and respected. We will continue to fight this battle everywhere and will not give in to the regression that threatens and the hate speech that is spreading.

List of Signatories:

1. Hela ABDELJAOUAD, Doctor, Human rights activist, Feminist.
2. Adel ABDERAZAK, Algerian scholar and activist for Hirak and human rights.
3. Soukeina ABDESSAMAD, Journalist, human rights activist.
4. Abderrahim AFARKI, Librarian, Paris.
5. Hafedh AFFES, Associative activist – Lille.
6. Nadia AIT ZAI, Lawyer, activist.
7. Sanhaja AKROUF, Feminist, Associative activist.
8. Mehdi Thomas ALLAL, administrative officer
9. Mourad ALLAL, Director of training center, community activist.
10. Tewfik ALLAL, Human rights and immigration activist.
11. Donia ALLANI, Human Rights Defender.
12. Thouraya ANNABI, Medical expert in public health, community activist.
13. Hassan ARFAOUI, Journalist, founder and former editor-in-chief of the scientific journal of the Institute of the Arab World in Paris (MARS).
14. Moez ATTIA, Engineer, journalist, rights activist.
15. Mohamed AYARI, Doctor, civil society activist.
16. Mehdi BACCOUCHE, Human rights activist.
17. Naji BACCOUCHE, University lawyer, former dean of the faculty of Sfax.
18. Aziz BARKAOUI, Engineer, human rights activist
19. Anissa BARRAQ, Communication Expert.
20. Yagoutha BELGACEM, artistic director.
21. Emna BEL HAJ YAHYA, Novelist.
22. Fathi BEL HAJ YAHYA, Associative activist, defender of rights.
23. Ahlem BELHADJ, child psychiatrist, head of public health service, feminist.
24. Hedia BELHAJ, Doctor MPH, President of the Tawhida Ben Cheikh Group.
25. Bochra BELHAJ HMIDA, Lawyer, President of COLIBE, feminist, former MP.
26. Basset BELHASSEN, Human rights activist.
27. Souhair BELHASSEN, Rights activist, Honorary President of FIDH.
28. Farouk BELKEDDAR, Retired executive.
29. Hédi BEN ABBES, University.
30. Fayçal BEN ABDELLAH, President of the Tunisian Federation for Citizenship of the 2 Shores (FTCR)
31. Slim BEN ABDESSALEM, Political and association activist.
32. Sana BEN ACHOUR, University lawyer, President BEITY Association.
33. Yadh BEN ACHOUR, Legal scholar, former dean, member of the United Nations Committee on Civil and Political Rights
34. Rabâa BEN ACHOUR-ABDELKEFI, Academic, Novelist.
35. Ali BEN AMEUR, Academic and human rights activist.
36. Slim BEN ARFA, Political and association activist.
37. Madjid BENCHIKH, former dean of the Faculty of Law of Algiers.
38. Khalil BEN CHRIF, NGO Executive.
39. Kmar BEN DANA, Historian.
40. Monia BEN DJEMIA, University, law professor, feminist.
41. Hechmi BEN FRAJ, Activist, El Amel Ettounsi Perspectives.
42. Taoufik BEN HADID, Architect.
43. Mouna BEN HALIMA, Associative activist.
44. Essma BEN HAMIDA, Co-founder of Enda-interarabe.
45. Mohsen BEN HENDA, Human rights activist.
46. ​​Jawhar BEN MBAREK, Legal scholar, human rights activist.
47. Dalila BEN MBAREK-MSADDEK, Lawyer, journalist.
48. Kamel BEN MESSAOUD, Professor of Law, Lawyer.
49. Ali BENSAAD, University Professor
50. Mohamed BEN SAID, Doctor, human rights activist
51. Souheila BEN SAID, Human rights activist.
52. Sihem BEN SEDRINE, Activist, President of the Truth and Dignity Commission.
53. Raja BEN SLAMA, University specialist in Arab civilisation.
54. Karim BEN SMAIL, Publisher, Cérès Edition.
55. Nedra BEN SMAIL, Clinical psychologist, community activist.
56. Rym BEN SMAIL, University, president Psychologist of the Tunisia world.
57. Farhat BEN YOUNESS, Civic Education Inspector.
58. Sophie BESSIS, Historian, author.
59. Dorra BOUCHOUCHA, Cinema Producer.
60. Taoufik BOUDERBALA, Former President of the Tunisian National Committee for Human Rights.
61. Bouchra BOULOUIZ, Moroccan writer.
62. Soukeina BOURAOUI, Lawyer, President of CAWTAR (Arab Women’s Center).
63. Anouar BRAHEM, Composer.
64. Nadia CHAABANE, Political activist, former MP.
65. Alia CHAMMARI, Lawyer, feminist activist.
66. Khémais CHAMMARI, Former Ambassador, Human Rights Activist.
67. Taoufik CHAMMARI, Associative activist.
68. Hedi CHANCHABI, Director of training center, community activist.
69. Mounira CHAPOUTOT-REMADI, University historian.
70. Faouzia CHARFI, University physicist, author.
71. Fatma CHARFI, Child psychiatrist, public health.
72. Mounir CHARFI, Journalist, political scientist, President of the National Observatory for the defense of the civil character of the State.
73. Hafedh CHEKIR, Demographer.
74. Mohieddine CHERBIB, Human Rights Defender.
75. Khadija CHERIF, Human rights activist, feminist.
76. Moez CHERIF, doctor, President of the Tunisian association for the defense of children’s rights.
77. Alice CHERKI, Psychoanalyst.
78. Hazem CHIKHAOUI, human rights activist.
79. Bachir DAHAK, Lawyer.
80. Frida DAHMANI, Journalist.
81. Ahmed DAHMANI, University of Algiers.
82. Nacer DJABI, Sociologist.
83. Mohsen DRIDI, Associative activist.
84. Mouna DRIDI, Legal scholar.
85. Ali EL BAZ, Immigration activist.
86. Nadia EL FANI, Filmmaker.
87. Fethi EL HADJALI, Rights activist.
88. Ihsane EL KADI, Journalist.
89. Driss EL KORCHI, Engineer, community activist (Belgium- Morocco) .
90. Driss EL YAZAMI, President of the Euro-Mediterranean Support Foundation for Human Rights Defenders.
91. Mohamed ELLOUZE, activist.
92. Ahmed ESSOUSI, Professor of Law, University of Sousse.
93. Mohamed FELLAG, Comedian.
94. Wahid FERCICHI, Professor of Law, University of Carthage, President of ADLI.
95. Claudette FERJANI, Retired
96. Mohamed Chérif FERJANI, University
97. Samia FRAOUES, Feminist activist
98. Yosra FRAOUES, Feminist lawyer, responsible MENA FIDH.
99. Henda GAFSI, Secular Democratic Urban Planner.
100. Ahmed GALAÏ, Rights activist, president secular solidarity Mediterranean Tunisia.
101. Mouldi GASSOUMI, Sociologist University of Tunis.
102. Asma GHACHEM, University lawyer, vice dean.
103. Ikbal GHARBI, Islamic civilization scholar.
104. Najla GHARBI, Academic,
105. Nasreddine GHOZALI, University Professor.
106. Saloua GHRISSA, University-researcher.
107. Amel GRAMI, University.
108. Zeineb GUEHISS, Feminist activist.
109. Saloua GUIGA, FemWise-Africa Activist.
110. Salma HAJRI, Doctor.
111. Mohamed-Ali HALOUANI, Philosopher, Associative and political activist.
112. Saloua HAMROUNI, University lawyer.
113. Maher HANINE, Teacher, community activist.
114. Mohamed HARBI, Historian
115. Miled HASSINI, Retired executive.
116. Abderrahmane HAYANE, Director.
117. Fathia HIZEM, Feminist activist.
118. Chaïma ISSA, Academic, activist.
119. Saoussan JAADI, Feminist activist
120. Afif JAÏDI, Magistrate.
121. Emna JEBLAOUI, Associative activist.
122. Narjes JEDIDI, Academic.
123. Kamel JENDOUBI, former Minister of Human Rights, rights activist.
124. Noureddine JOUINI, Emeritus Professor.
125. Zahia JOUIROU, Islamic Civilization University.
126. Hédia JRAD, Activist and feminist.
127. Neyla JRAD, Feminist activist.
128. Meryem KALLAL, Painter.
129. Mohamed KANDRICHE, Sociologist, community activist.
130. Raoudha KARAFI, Human Rights Defender.
131. Abdessalan KEKLI, University
132. Myriam KENDSI, painter.
133. Mongi KHADROUI, Journalist.
134. Tahar KHALFOUNE, lawyer, academic
135. Mohamed KHANDRICHE, Sociologist.
136. Mohamed KHENISSI, Human Rights Defender.
137. Ramy KHOUILI, Associative activist.
138. Hatem KOTRANE, Emeritus Professor
139. Zied KRICHEN, Journalist.
140. Abdellatif LAABI, Poet
141. Kamel LAABIDI, Activist, President of the Vigilance Association for Democracy and Civic Status.
142. Kamel LAHBIB, Human Rights Defender Morocco.
143. Latifa LAKHDAR, Academic, historian, former Minister of Culture.
144. Djaafar LAKHDARI, Consultant.
145. Walid LARBI, University lawyer, human rights activist.
146. Abdelhamid LARGUECHE, University historian.
147. Dalenda LARGUECHE, university historian, feminist.
148. Edith LHOMEL: S.G of CRLDHT (Committee for the respect of freedoms and human rights in Tunisia)
149. Souad LABBIZE, poet
150. Ali LMRABET, Journalist.
151. Adel LTIFI, Historian, community and political activist.
152. Latifa MADANI, Journalist.
153. Lotfi MADANI, Consultant, communication expert.
154. Ahmed MAHIOU, Professor of Law
155. Dorra MAHFOUDH-DRAOUI, University Sociologist, human rights activist, feminist.
156. Rym MAHJOUB, Activist, former deputy.
157. Mustapha MANGOUCHI, Director.
158. Benamar MEDIENE, Sociologist, Writer.
159. Habib MELLAKH, University and community activist.
160. Imed MELLITI, University anthropologist.
161. Abdou MENEBHI, Associative activist, President emcemo Netherlands.
162. Samira MERAI, Former Minister.
163. Ali MEZGHANI, Professor of Law.
164. Najet MIZOUNI-LIENDERBERG, University.
165. Aziz MKECHERI, Teacher, community activist (Belgium- Morocco).
166. Emna MNIF, Doctor.
167. Khadija MOHSEN-FINAN, Political scientist-researcher.
168. Cherif MSADDEK
169. Jamel MSALLEM, Activist, President LTDH.
170. Rabea NACIRI, Sociologist, Human rights activist, feminist.
171. Lamia NAJI, Lawyer University.
172. Okba NATAHI, Psychoanalyst.
173. Jabeur OUAJEH, Human rights activist.
174. Salah OUDAHAR, poet, festival director
175. Ramzi OUESLATI, Associative activist France.
176. Soufiane OUISSI, Human rights activist, president of art-rue.
177. Fatma OUSSEDIK, Sociologist.
178. Hamadi RDISSI, Political Scientist
179. Lilia REBAÏ, Associative activist.
180. Boujemaa RMILI, Economist, political activist.
181. Messaoud ROMDHANI, Associative activist.
182. Kathy SAADA, Psychoanalyst.
183. Said SADI, Doctor-Psychiatrist, Author.
184. Fethia SAIDI, Sociologist-academic.
185. Ramy SALHI, Human rights activist.
186. Chafik SARSAR, Academic, former president of the ISIE.
187. Meriem SELLAMI, University anthropologist.
188. Mohamed SMIDA, Political and association activist.
189. Khaoula TALEB-IBRAHIMI, University Professor.
190. Wassyla TAMZALI, essayist
191. Hocine TANJAOUI, Writer.
192. Nadia TAZI, philosopher
193. Ridha TLILI, Historian, human rights activist.
194. Mokhtar TRIFI, Lawyer, human rights activist.
195. Souad TRIKI, Economist, Human rights activist, feminist.
196. Khayem TURKI, Economist, human rights activist.
197. Najet ZAMMOURI, Human rights activist.
198. Abdallah ZNIBER, Human rights and immigration activist.
199. Neïla ZOGHLEMI-TLILI, Feminist activist, President Tunisian Association of Democratic Women.
200. Imed ZOUARI, Human rights activist.

Signatory Associations:

– ACTING FOR CHANGE AND DEMOCRACY IN ALGERIA ACDA

– “WE ALL” ASSOCIATION

– KEF WOMEN AND CITIZENSHIP ASSOCIATION

– STREET ART ASSOCIATION

– NACHAZ ASSOCIATION

– TUNISIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS (ADLI)

– TUNISIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF UNIVERSITY VALUES (ATDV)

– TUNISIAN ASSOCIATION OF DEMOCRATIC WOMEN (ATFD)

– VIGILANCE ASSOCIATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL STATUS

– BEITY FOR WOMEN

– CERES EDITIONS

– MOROCCAN COALITION FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE

– COLLECTIVE ASSOCIATION FOR THE OBSERVATION OF ELECTIONS

– VIGILANCE COMMITTEE FOR DEMOCRACY IN TUNISIA – BELGIUM

– COMMITTEE FOR THE RESPECT OF FREEDOMS AND HUMAN RIGHTS (CRLDHT)

– E-JOUSSOUR MAGHREB-MASHREK

– N’AOURA ASSOCIATION OF BELGIUM

– SOS MIGRANTS – BELGIUM

– EURO-MEDITERRANEAN MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EMCEMO, NETHERLANDS)

– FEDERATION OF TUNISIAN PUBLISHERS

– FEDERATION OF TUNISIAN CITIZENS OF THE TWO BANKS (FTCR)

– MOROCCO ALTERNATIVES FORUM

– FREE SIGHT ASSOCIATION TUNISIA

– TAWHIDA BEN SHEIKH GROUP

– JOUSSOUR TUNISIA

– TUNISIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE LEAGUE (LTDH)

– MOROCCAN OBSERVATORY OF PUBLIC FREEDOMS

– NATIONAL OBSERVATORY FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE CIVILIAN CHARACTER OF THE STATE

– EL AMEL ETTOUNSI OUTLOOK

– WORLD PSYCHOLOGIST TUNISIA

– SHAMS