When Tunisian blogger Zizou from Djerba returned home to Tunis from Cairo last week, he received more than the welcome he bargained for. At the airport in Tunis, Zizou was surrounded by customs and security officers, his luggage searched, two books purchased in Egypt seized. Zizou‘s readers were not surprised. “Ah yes, that's the reality in our country, not what we read in the newspapers,” one reader commented. Tunisia is notorious for its repression of speech. Books are frequently censored or seized, internet sites blocked, and bloggers harassed or arrested. Here is Zizou‘s account of events: Vol : Le Caire – Tunis Hier soir Je passe le controle de police tres rapidement et sans aucun probleme , le policier n'avait pas de moustache, Il etait tres gentil et tres accueillant. Je mets mes bagages a mains au Scanner et je passe par le portail detecteur de metaux qui affiche vert. La ! Le policier qui manipule la machine a rayons X me demande si j'ai des livres dans mes bagages. J'ai dit oui… J'ai pris mes bagages du scanner, j'ai recupere ma valise , fait un pt tour au freeshop et puis je me suis dirige vers la sortie. Flight – Cairo to Tunis last night I pass through the security checkpoint quickly and without incident. The policeman didn't have a dark mustache. He was very nice and friendly. I put my hand luggage on the x-ray machine and walked through the metal detector, which was green. But then the policeman who was operating the x-ray machine asked me if I had any books in my bags. I said yes…I took my carry on luggage from the scanner, picked up my checked luggage, passed by the duty-free shop and then headed for the exit. A ce moment la j'ai vu un agent en uniforme qui s'approchait de l'officier des douanes et lui soufflait qlq mots en ma direction. Automatiquement, l'officier des douanes me demande de m'arreter et de partir pour la fouille. La ! un comite d'accueil qui inclut 3 policiers en civil, deux officiers de douanes (3 etoiles), plusieurs agents entourent mes bagages, parcourent mon passport et me posent des questions quant a ma profession. Tout s'est tres bien passe, les services de douanes et de polices ont ete tres courtois et tres poli. Ils ont note mon adresse detaille a Tunis et puis ils m'ont informe que deux livres que j'ai achete en Egypte vont etre saisis temporairement. Il s'agit de “memoire d'un militant” de Mahmoud Materi et “Ma part de verite” de Mohamed Mzali. That's when I saw an agent in uniform go to the customs officer and say a few words, looking in my direction. Immediately, the customs officer asked me to stop for inspection. Then the welcoming committee, which included three plainclothes police officers, two customs officials (3 stars) and several agents, surrounded my bags, looked through my passport and asked me questions about my profession. Everything went well; the customs and police were very courteous and polite. They took down my address in Tunis in detail and then informed me that the two books I bought in Egypt would be temporarily confiscated. One was a “memoir of a militant” by Mahmoud Materi and the other “My Side of the Truth” by Mohamed Mzali. J'avoue que cet attroupement pacifique de services de l'ordre et de douanes m'a inquiete. Qu'avais je fais de mal pour qu'autant de haut grades debarquent? Est ce que ces livres portent un messages ou une ideologie ennemie ? Est ce qu'il est interdit de lire des autobiographies d'anciennes figures du parti destourien et de personnalites importantes de l'histoire de mon pays? Je suis vraiment surpris et j'avoue que j'ai eu peur… Que se passera t'il par la suite ? Dois je essayer de recuperer les livres ? Dois je arreter de m'interesser a l'histoire de la Tunisie ? Je ne sais plus quoi faire ni quoi penser? I admit that this peaceful group of security and customs officials has unsettled me. What did I do wrong to attract such high level attention? Did these books carry an enemy message or ideology? Is it not allowed to read autobiographies of former party figures and important people in the history of my country? I was really surprised and I admit I was afraid…So what happens next? Do I try to get back my books? Do I stop being interested in the history of Tunisia? I don't know anymore what to do or think. Many of Zizou‘s readers expressed not shock or outrage but resignation about what has been the status quo in Tunisia for many years. Bloton: Ils vont les lire pour voir s'il y a qque chose de suspect (enfin suspect suivant leur normes). Pour eux, l'histoire de la Tunisie commence en 1987… samsoum: Eh oui, ca c'est la réalité de notre pays, pas ce qu'on lit dans les journaux :( Emma Benji: yé Zizou, tawa ne sais tu pas que le tunisien ne lit pas.