Last modified: 2003-07-18 by rob raeside
Keywords: tunisia | star (white) | crescent |
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2:3 by Zeljko Heimer
Similar to the national flag, red flag with white disk containing the
crescent and star (apparently somewhat smaller then in the national flag) and
above the disk in yellow Arabic letters inscribed "Li-l-watan," meaning
"For the nation". There is
a golden/yellow fringe along the three outer edges. A red ribbon is attached to
the flag pole above the
flag, fringed golden at the short edge and with a white disk with crescent and
star near the fringe.
Zeljko Heimer, 11 April 2003
I've seen this flag in the official photo portrait of President Ben Ali with
the inscription at an angle and placed between the disk and the upper hoist
corner, and the disk outlined by an narrow embroidered gold circle.
Joe McMillan, 11 April 2003
The Tunisian defense attaché in
Washington said this flag used to be displayed by all commanders in the armed
forces, but is now limited to the President. I would surmise that it represents
his capacity as commander in chief of the
armed forces.
Joe McMillan, 17 April 2001
At
http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/Oct2000/001007-D-9880W-053.html is a
recent photograph of President Ben Ali meeting with US Secretary of Defense
William Cohen with two flags along the wall. One is a fringed version of the
Tunisian national flag with an Arabic inscription in white in the upper hoist. I
have seen this flag in Tunisian military offices during previous visits; as I
recall, the inscription reads "li-l watan" (for the nation) [the -tan portion is
visible in the photograph
linked above]. The other is bluish-violet with an Arabic monogram surrounded by
an olive wreath, all in silver. The monogram appears to consist of two letters,
one of which is a "jim" (transliterated in English as j). The other may be
a "ta", which would suggest a monogram for Al-Jumhuriyah at-Tunisiyah, (the
Tunisian Republic), but I can't tell for sure. An interesting feature is that
both flags are topped with short cravats with miniature versions of the devices
on the flags.
Does anyone have any further information on these?
Joe McMillan, 27 September 2000
According to 'Pavillons nationaux et marques distinctives', the fringe
around the president's flag is yellow instead of white. National flag is also
used as civil and war ensign, war flag, and jack.
Ivan Sache, 10 January 2001
Album des Pavillons (2000) shows the fringe
as gold, but
Smith (1975) shows it white. Maybe it varies,
or has changed?
Zeljko Heimer, 24 January 2001
by Zeljko Heimer
I show the image here with a large disk as in Album
des Pavillons (2000), though if the fringe is correct, the disk is probably
not, and should match the "usual" size. This (or better the white fringed
variant that I'll show subsequently) was adopted earliest on 25 July 1957 when
Tunisia became a republic and Habib Bourguiba became president. It may be
possible that it was abandoned on 7 November 1987 when Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
replaced Bourguiba as president. To speculate further, the yellow fringed flag
might have been version used at first (shortly?) before the current "Li-l-watan"
flag was adopted. This would make Tunisian Republic one of the several that
under French influence have habits of using different flags for subsequent
presidents. It may be too early for any conclusions as we have only two
presidents to look at. Certainly, it wouldn't be surprising.
Zeljko Heimer, 12 April 2003
by Zeljko Heimer
This version is based on Smith (1982) with a white disk being approximately
1/3 of the hoist.
Zeljko Heimer, 12 April 2003