MEDIA ALERT: Clashes between Tunisian Citizens and Police at Assassinated Tunisian Opposition Leader’s Funeral Feb. 8, 2013

February 8th, 2013

MEDIA ALERT: Clashes between Tunisian Citizens and Police at Assassinated Tunisian Opposition Leader’s Funeral Feb. 8, 2013

TUNIS, TUNISIA – Tunisian citizens and police clash during Tunisian Opposition Leader Chokri Belaid’s funeral, Friday. There are reports of burning vehicles and anti-government chants. Police are using tear gas to control the crowds. Belaid was assassinated Wednesday outside his home. He was a left-wing politician who strongly opposed the predominately Islamist government in Tunisia. (Sources: Huffington Post/New York Times/Al Jazeera English)

Analysts available for comment:

	Dr. Paul Sullivan is a professor of economics at the National Defense University and an adjunct professor of Security Studies and Science, Technology and International Affairs at Georgetown University. At Georgetown University, he teaches classes on global energy and security, energy security in the Middle East, and natural resources and conflict in Africa and the Middle East. Recently, he wrote an exclusive article for Global Experts on Tunisia. CONTACT: paul.sullivan@theglobalexperts.org Location: Washington D.C. Language: English

	Dr. Carool Kersten is a lecturer in Islamic Studies at King’s College London. His areas of expertise include contemporary Islam and current affairs in the Muslim world, Islam in Southeast Asia and modern Muslim thought. He has a particular interest in liberal Islam, alternative Islamic discourses and the work of progressive Muslim intellectuals. CONTACT: carool.kersten@theglobalexperts.org Location: West Europe Language: Dutch; English
	Dr. John L. Esposito is an expert in religion and international affairs, particularly within the context of the Middle East. A consultant to the Department of State as well as corporations, universities, and the media worldwide, Professor Esposito specializes in Islam, political Islam, and the impact of Islamic movements from North Africa to Southeast Asia. CONTACT: john.esposito@theglobalexperts.org Location: North America Languages: English
	Dr. Rashid Khalidi has been the Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies at Columbia University since 2003. Khalidi is editor of the Journal of Palestine Studies, and he is former President of the Middle East Studies Association, and an advisor to the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid and Washington Arab-Israeli peace negotiations from October 1991 until June 1993. Additionally, he is the author of British Policy Towards Syria and Palestine, 1906-1914 (1980). CONTACT: rashid.khalidi@theglobalexperts.org Location: North America Languages: Arabic; English
	Tuomo Melasuo is Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies as well as Research Director of TAPRI, Tampere Peace Research Institute, University of Tampere, Finland. He has studied contemporary political history as well as political science and international relations in Finland and in France. Professor Melasuo is specialized on North Africa. CONTACT: tuomo.melasuo@theglobalexperts.org Location: West Europe Languages: English, Finnish, French
	Abdeslam Maghraoui is Associate Professor of Political Science at Duke University and a core faculty member at the Duke Islamic Studies Center. Professor Maghraoui focuses his research on religion, political reform and political violence in the Middle East and North Africa. Having carried out fieldwork frequently in both regions, he has been called on multiple occasions to provide testimony to various US government agencies regarding his areas of study, and has been featured on American and international TV and radio programs. CONTACT: abdeslam.maghraoui@theglobalexperts.org Location: North America Language: Arabic, English, French