Tunisian actress Hend Sabry said her name was fraudulently used on a petition drawn up by members of Tunisia’s elite in which they asked overthrown Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to run for a fifth presidential term in 2014.
In an interview with Al-Masry Al-Youm, the 31-year-old Tunisian actress, who resides in Cairo, said, "We have lived for a long time in tremendous fear and were forced to remain silent about everything."
Sabry, who is currently one of the most celebrated female stars in Egyptian cinema, added, "Tunisian people know very well what it is like to be afraid, and it is time to bid farewell to this fear."
"I was surprised to find my name on the petition endorsing the toppled president for a new presidential term without first being asked," said the actress, who is also a graduate of law school. "When I objected, the response was very impolite."
Several Tunisian artists, politicians and writers last year joined in the campaign which urged the ousted president to run again for presidency after his current term, due to end in 2014–despite popular opposition to his regime.
Sabry described Ben Ali’s regime as “one of the worst repressive regimes in the world.”
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
