December 5, 1952: The Assassination of Farhat Hached
On December 5, 1952, militant and trade unionist Farhat Hached was assassinated in the suburbs of Rades, in the Tunisian capital, as he was on his way to the headquarters of the workers' union. Hached, born on February 2, 1914, on the island of Kerkennah, dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of the Tunisian people and distinguished himself as the prominent leader of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), the first trade union organization in Africa and the Arab world.
Early Career and Activism
His trade union career began at a young age. He joined the transport workers' union in 1936 and led a successful strike, before continuing his activities in Sfax and founding, with his comrades, the Union of Independent Unions of the South. He demanded equality between Tunisian and French workers and was the first to call for independence from French colonialism.
International Contributions and Legacy
Hached's contributions went beyond the local level. He participated in international conferences and worked to strengthen labor unions in North Africa, earning him great popularity and embarrassing French colonialism, which failed to stop him. As his political activity and ongoing struggle escalated, Hached was threatened by the "Red Hand" organization, before being assassinated by its members in a planned operation, according to the confession of one of its members in a documentary broadcast by the "Al Jazeera" channel in 2010.
Impact and Rememberance
The assassination of Farhat Hached had a major impact on the Tunisian trade union and political movement, making his voice a symbol of dignity and struggle. Efforts to reveal the circumstances of his assassination and bring those responsible to justice continued, his cause remaining part of the memory of the Tunisian people's struggle against colonialism and for social justice. On this anniversary of his assassination, Tunisians remember the voice of Farhat Hached, which continued to resonate in defense of the rights and dignity of the people, a symbol of trade union militancy and sincere patriotism. However, behind these inspiring words, the story of his assassination has not yet revealed all its secrets.
