Artists vs. Clergy in Tunisia. Who will in the battle over freedom of expression?

RUETERS
By Lin Noueihed

TUNIS---Tunisian artists have gone underground since Salafi Islamists broke into Abdeliya Palace on June 10 and destroyed a handful of works at the Printemps des Arts fair to protest against art they deemed insulting to Islam, then ran riot for days. One of the most controversial works on display was an installation depicting veiled women as punching bags. Meriem Bouderbala, one of the curators at Printemps des Arts says, "After the revolution, artists had a feeling of freedom. They wanted to express freely. They produced very powerful art," she said. "Many people will self-censor. They are afraid because it is a matter of life or death but ... artists adapt to any situation ... Artists are visionaries. They find a way." [link]