Lina Ben Mhenni facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lina Ben Mhenni
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Lina Ben Mhenni in 2013
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| Born | 22 May 1983 |
| Died | 27 January 2020 (aged 36) Tunisia
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| Cause of death | Lupus erythematosus and Kidney failure |
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Lina Ben Mhenni (Arabic: لينا بن مهني) (born May 22, 1983 – died January 27, 2020) was a brave activist, blogger, and university lecturer from Tunisia. She became well-known around the world for her important work during the 2011 Tunisian Revolution. She continued to fight for human rights and freedom in her country until she passed away.
Contents
Lina's Activism: Fighting for Freedom
A Blogger Who Spoke Out
Lina Ben Mhenni had a blog called A Tunisian Girl. She wrote her blog in three languages: Arabic, English, and French. This was very special because, during the time of former Tunisian President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, most bloggers used fake names to stay safe. Lina was one of the few who bravely used her real name.
Because she spoke out, her blog, Facebook, and Twitter accounts were often blocked by the government. But Lina kept going. She started sharing photos and videos of protests and people who were hurt. She even visited local hospitals to take pictures. This helped show the world what was really happening and made the government more accountable.
Reporting on the Tunisian Revolution
In May 2010, Lina was one of the main people who organized a protest in Tunis. This protest was against the government blocking news and censoring the internet.
In January 2011, she reported from inside Tunisia during the early weeks of the Tunisian Revolution. This was a time when people protested against the government. Lina was the only blogger in some cities like Kasserine and Regueb. These were places where government forces were hurting protesters. Her reports and online posts gave real, uncensored information to other activists and international news groups.
Continuing Her Fight for Rights
After the Tunisian Revolution started, Lina remained a very important voice among Tunisia's bloggers and people fighting for democracy. She helped with new laws about media and information, but she later left that work. She continued to keep track of how free the press was and how human rights were being treated in the country.
Lina spoke out against corruption in the Tunisian government. She also criticized some political parties for saying one thing in public and another online. She believed that working online must be combined with real-world actions. She famously said, "It is not enough to publish a status, or a video, or share a hashtag. You have to work in the field, meet people, and be present during the demonstrations.”
She lived by these words until she died. With her father, she started a project to create libraries in prisons. This was to promote culture and help fight against terrorism. In her last months, she also spoke out about the poor conditions in hospitals in Tunisia's capital city.
Lina's Personal Life
Lina Ben Mhenni came from a family of activists. Her father, Sadok, was a political prisoner, and her mother, Emna, was part of a student union movement.
Lina had a health condition called Lupus. In 2007, she received a kidney transplant from her mother. After this, she became a strong supporter of organ donation. She even took part in the World Transplant Games in 2007 and 2009, where she won several medals.
Awards and Recognition
In 2011, Lina Ben Mhenni was considered a possible candidate for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. This was for her important work and activism during the Tunisian Revolution.
In October 2011, she won the International Journalism Prize from El Mundo newspaper. She received it for her "fight for freedom."
She also won the Deutsche Welle International Blog Award for "A Tunisian Girl" in April 2011. The awards were given in Bonn, Germany. During the ceremony, she said, "I'll continue my work and try to protect the fruits of the revolution.”
In November 2012, she was given the Sean MacBride Peace Prize by the International Peace Bureau.
On March 3, 2020, the Tunisian Post Office published a stamp with her picture. This stamp was part of a series honoring people who fought for freedom of speech, free internet access, and human rights.
In May 2020, the European Union in Tunisia started the Prix Lina Ben Mhenni pour la liberté d’expression. This prize will honor the best articles that support democracy, freedom, and rights shared by Tunisia and the European Union.
Lina's Passing
Lina Ben Mhenni passed away on January 27, 2020, at the age of 36. She died in a hospital from a stroke caused by complications from her autoimmune disease. News organizations from many countries highlighted how important her work was and how much she contributed to the fight for human rights in Tunisia and the surrounding region.
See also
In Spanish: Lina Ben Mhenni para niños
- Tunisian revolution
- Arab Spring
- Amira Yahyaoui
- Slim Amamou
- Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali
- Mohammed Bouazizi
- Randa Kassis
- List of conflicts in Africa
- History of Tunisia
- Global Voices
