The Lost Children of Tunisia

The theft of jihad on a nation’s youth

It’s a small coastal North African nation that was the birthplace of the Arab Spring, and where initial protests would later inspire millions around the Middle East to take to the streets demanding democracy. But on the verge of becoming a bastion for change, Tunisia instead became the latest casualty in global terrorism.

A longtime hotbed for ISIL recruitment, the U.N. estimates Tunisia has the highest per capita rate of foreign ISIL fighters of any nation in the world. But even as ISIL loses its stronghold in Iraq and Syria, Tunisians are now facing a new kind of challenge, one that is just as complex and perhaps even more heartbreaking: the rise in the number of ex-fighters trying to come home, and being met with forceful resistance from Tunisians who fear they’ll drive their country back into the hands of jihadists.

The Lost Children of Tunisia is a harrowing portrait of the devastating effects terrorism has had on Tunisia. It introduces viewers to families whose lives have been forever-altered by sons who have – sometimes secretly – left to join ISIL, and who are now being barred from reclaiming their place at home. It shows how families cope with both the highs of discovering their sons are still alive, and the anguish of realizing they might not ever see them again. And it asks how a once-peaceful nation came close to becoming a symbol for progress, but ended up mired in a violence that is infiltrating the human experience at every level and fraying the social fabric for generations to come.

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MORE ON THE WEB

INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMICS AND PEACE | TUNISIA TERRORISM INDEX


source: tradingeconomics.com

The Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global Terrorism Index measures the direct and indirect impact of terrorism, including its effects on lives lost, injuries, property damage and its psychological aftereffects. Its composite score ranks countries according to the impact of terrorism from 0 (no impact) to 10 (highest impact).

Tunisia Terrorism Index experienced a small decrease in 2016, going from 4.96 to 4.62. Following an all-time high in terror attacks, the country showed signs of a slight slowdown in terrorism, but terrorism is projected to reach 5.03 in 2020, according to the Institute’s econometric models.

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP | WATCH LIST 2018

The International Crisis Group’s Watch List is an early-watch identifier of countries at risk of conflict or escalation of violence.

Traditionally made up of 10 countries or regions, the 2018 Watch List includes Tunisia, along with Afghanistan, Bangladesh/Myanmar, Cameroon, Colombia, Egypt, Iraq, Sahel, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.

Explore Tunisia in the Watch List 2018.

CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE | CONFLICT AND MILITANCY IN TUNISIA

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a global network of policy research centers that works to advance peace through analysis and development of policy ideas, engagement and collaboration with government, business, and civil society.

Read Carnegie's paper on The Geographic Trajectory of Conflict and Militancy in Tunisia.

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