Tunisia suspends Emirates Airlines flights from and to UAE over female travel ban by the Emiratis

Tunisia suspended Sunday Emirates Airlines flights after a public outcry over security measures in the United Arab Emirates targeting women from the country.

Tunisia’s transport ministry said in a statement it had “decided to suspend” Emirates flights to Tunis “until the airline is able to find the appropriate solution to operate its flights in accordance with international law and agreements”.

This new tension between Tunis and Abu Dhabi comes as Tunisian women had said their travel to the Gulf state on UAE airlines had been delayed and some had been forced to undergo additional examination of their visas, which triggered angry reactions on social media and media outlets in Tunisia.

The United Arab Emirates commented Sunday saying “security information” had caused the delays on Tunisian women from boarding flights to the Gulf state.

“We contacted our Tunisian brothers about security information that necessitated taking specific procedures,” UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on Twitter.

This is not the first time Tunisia and the UAE find themselves inside a tense situation, as the whole tension dates back to after 2011 revolution and the appearance of Al-Nahda Party in the country and inside the ruling circle in Tunisia.