Dispute Erupts in Tunisia After School Forbids Students from Praying in Courtyard

Dispute Erupts in Tunisia After School Forbids Students from Praying in Courtyard
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A school in Hammamet, Tunisia, has triggered widespread public debate and controversy regarding national identity and religion after administrators prevented students from performing communal prayer in the schoolyard.

According to Al Jazeera, a video of the school principal objecting to the prayer circulated widely on social media, sparking strong reactions from activists and citizens. Some users called for the establishment of dedicated prayer rooms (musallas) in schools, while others emphasized the importance of maintaining the secular nature of public education.

The incident drew comments from politicians and experts, who affirmed that Tunisia’s constitution guarantees freedom of worship. However, they stressed that both Islam and Arabism remain foundational pillars of the country’s national identity, highlighting the deep internal division over the separation of mosque and state within the educational system.