Hommam Al Nassim 
Tunisia is in a state of anxiety after a case of sexual exploitation and blackmail involving a number of children was revealed online.
The Tunisian authorities began investigation procedures to uncover the circumstances of the case, after it sparked a wave of public anger and widespread interaction on social media.
Efforts to track down the perpetrator began after reports from Tunisian families posted on the Instagram page “El madame” that their children had been threatened and sexually exploited by an unknown person, and the page posted a photo of the suspect taken from the description of one of his victims.
Majdi al-Karbai, a human rights activist based in Italy, also announced that in cooperation with international associations and activists, work is underway to file a case in Italy, where the suspect lives.
The move aims to go after the perpetrator and expose a wider network of perverts that may be active in Tunisia and Europe.
Anis Aoun Allah, the child protection delegate in Tunisia, said that so far, the families have not officially submitted reports to the children’s representatives, putting the authorities in a difficult position to identify the victims and those involved.
He urged families to communicate with the competent authorities to strengthen efforts to protect children and investigate the incidents.
The Ministry of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly in Tunisia also stressed the importance of immunizing children, educating them and their families, and ensuring the safe use of the Internet, stressing that the legal and institutional framework in Tunisia provides adequate protection for children.
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