Tunisians Fume As Woman Medalist Seen Kissing Her French Husband After Win

JAFFA, Israel – Inès Boubakri, the winner of Tunisia’s first medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, has received more media attention for kissing her French husband than for her achievement.

Boubakri, a fencer who won a bronze medal in Thursday’s women’s foil competition, was seen kissing her French husband Erwann Pecoux, himself a fencer and Olympic medalist. It took many Tunisians by surprise, because the couple’s 2014 wedding was not publicized in her home country.

Boubakri’s brother told the media that his sister was married to the man she was seen kissing, and that he had converted to Islam for her.

The kiss stirred a debate on social media, where many came to Boubakri’s defense and said that her private life is no one else’s business.

Shadoun shared the picture of the kiss, adding: “Inès Boubakri after winning the Bronze medal, winning another prize from her husband the French fencing hero Erwann Pechoux.”

She then tweeted: “May your jealousy kill you, we say. You talk about it and people will get on with their lives. She got a golden kiss in a period when life is really not normal.”

Kawla Zellou commented on the article published on Tunivisions website: “Even if he’s not Muslim, what’s the problem?”

Sinda Azaiez added: “That a very nice picture.”

Nomem Niimi wrote: “People, Boubakri went out, Boubakri got drunk, Boubakri got laid. Why is it any of your business? Stick to your problems – food and water shortage, deteriorating health services, unfair justice system, dirty streets. You ignore all these and focus your attention on someone else’s wife. Hypocritical people make a big deal out of a kiss between a woman and her husband, but would accept sex jihad. May Allah harm your eyes like he harmed your brains.”

Omm Fares agreed: “You’re right, that’s her husband and she has the right to kiss him. If you don’t like it, don’t watch TV. But these people think that watching TV is a great sin in the first place.”

Intidhar Jlassi was also critical: “Her brother is an idiot. Why did he have to justify it in front of a bunch of Tunisian morons with nothing better to do?”

Hajer Essid Schembri commented on the Facebook page of Tunisia Today newspaper: “Please don’t make excuses! Who are these jerks who criticize her? I take my hat off to you, ma’am.”

“You bunch of morons. Leave the woman and her husband alone, and look at all she’s done for Tunisia,” Faf Bois wrote.