Salafists threaten Tunisian tourism

Tunisian tourism industry Tunisia - Nabil Zaghdoud The Tunisian Minister for Tourism, Elias al-Fekhfakh, has admitted that Salafist calls for the killing of Jewish tourists will affect the annual Jewish pilgrimage to al-Ghariba Synagogue, located in Djerba island (480km to South-East of Tunis), where about 2000 Jews - mostly Israelis, head to each year. Fekhfakh told Arabstoday that "these calls will surely affect the whole tourism season, and particularly the Jewish pilgrimage", adding "the Tunisians are more afraid than the tourists from these Salafist threats" said the minister. A Salafist preacher had earlier called on the Tunisian youth "To be ready to fight the Jews in order reach heaven". This was in a protest organised by "The Islamist Communities Front" on March 25. The call was widely condemned in Tunisia, particularly by the ruling Ennahda party and the Religious Affairs Ministry, which both stressed that "The Tunisian Jews are considered as citizens whose citizenship rights are totally guaranteed". Meanwhile, Fekhfakh has called for national coordination to diffuse the situation, in order to have a flourishing and successful tourism season . The minister continued "The Tunisians have to avoid listening to this exaggerating fear mongering, and be vigilant to the intimidation of a few trouble makers that we have seen in this country", insuring that "the government is  putting in huge resources to ensure the security of the nation, especially in touristic destinations. These actions have yielded positive signs, as more than 350 foreign reporters have visited Tunisia since the beginning of the year" the minister said.