Medal-winning Tunisian fuels women’s rights debate
Tunisian runner Habiba Ghribi dashed to win a silver medal in the women's 3,000-metre steeplechase at the 2012 London Games, becoming the first Tunisian woman in history to step onto an Olympic podium this week. However, her win has enflamed passions in her country, where rights groups say women’s equality is under attack.
Her victory stands as a milestone in Tunisian sports history, and not only because Ghribi is a woman. The small north-African country had been medal-less in Athletics since the great Mohammed Gammoudi won silver in the 5,000-metre race at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.
Her medal is Tunisia’s second in London; swimmer Oussama Mellouli won the bronze medal in the men's 1,500-metre freestyle on August 4.
“This medal is for all the Tunisian people, for Tunisian women, for the new Tunisia,” Ghribi, who finished behind world champion Yuliya Zaripova of Russia, told reporters after the race.
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Hard-line Muslims said they took offence to Ghribi running “in her underpants” - a reference to her running attire - while representing their country.
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“The underpants of Habiba Ghribi have honoured us,” Kassas joked during a radio debate with female Ennahda MP Farida Labidi on Tuesday. “What have [Ennahda MP’s] underpants done for us?”
http://www.france24.com/en/20120808-tunisia-runner-ghribi-women-rights-equality-compliment-constitution-ennahda-olympic-games