A Tunisian Girl, the personal blog maintained by Lina Ben Mhenni, served as a crucial conduit for uncensored information during the 2011 Tunisian Revolution. Writing in Arabic, English, and French, Ben Mhenni risked state retaliation by blogging under her real name during the administration of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to expose government suppression.
Revolutionary Reporting
Before the revolution fully materialized, Ben Mhenni engaged in organized dissent, including a May 2010 protest in Tunis against internet censorship. By January 2011, she transitioned into a frontline reporter, covering unrest in the interior regions of Kasserine and Regueb. She was notably the only blogger documenting government efforts to suppress protesters in these areas, providing international media and fellow activists with visual evidence of injuries sustained by citizens. Her approach emphasized that digital activism was insufficient on its own, advocating for a combination of online presence and physical participation in demonstrations.
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Following the removal of Ben Ali, Ben Mhenni remained involved in the reform of national media and information legislation, though she resigned from the interim government shortly after joining. Her focus shifted toward tracking ongoing human rights violations and systemic corruption. She was particularly vocal against the Ennahda party, accusing its leadership of maintaining a double discourse that presented moderate views to international audiences while espousing reactionary positions domestically. Her continued advocacy resulted in death threats and a requirement for police protection.
Academic and Personal Life
Beyond her political activities, Ben Mhenni was a lecturer in linguistics at Tunis University and worked as a translator. Her upbringing was shaped by parents deeply involved in activism; her father was a former political prisoner and her mother participated in the student union movement. Ben Mhenni suffered from Lupus and underwent a kidney transplant in 2007. This personal health challenge drove her to advocate for organ donation, while her athletic spirit led her to compete as a racewalker in the 2007 and 2009 World Transplant Games.
Legacy and Recognition
International bodies recognized her contributions to democracy, with the International Peace Bureau awarding her the Seán MacBride Peace Prize in 2012. Following her death on 27 January 2020 at the age of 36, she was buried at the Jellaz cemetery in Tunis. Her influence persists through institutional commemorations, including the Prix Lina Ben Mhenni pour la liberté d’expression established by the European Union delegation in Tunisia and a postage stamp series issued by La Poste Tunisienne in 2020.
Fast facts
- Born: 1983, Tunis
- Died: 27 January 2020, Tunis
- Education: Lecturer at Tunis University
- Key Award: Seán MacBride Peace Prize (2012)
- Blog: A Tunisian Girl
- Languages: Arabic, English, French
- Athletic Interest: Racewalker
- Resting Place: Jellaz cemetery
Questions readers ask
What did Lina Ben Mhenni focus on in her final years?
She focused on establishing prison libraries to promote culture and combat terrorism, and she publicly denounced the poor conditions of hospitals in Tunis.
Was she a Nobel Peace Prize laureate?
She was reported to be a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her activism during the Tunisian Revolution, but she did not receive the award.
Achievements
- Seán MacBride Peace Prize — 2012
