Tunisia shocked by TV host's 'marry rapist' remarks

A popular Tunisian talk show has been suspended after its presenter appeared to tell a young female guest to marry the man she accuses of raping her, and suggested she was to blame.

The girl, named Hajar, said she had been sexually abused by three different members of her family since the age of 14.

Often crying, she also said she was eight months pregnant by one of her abusers.

It emerged during her appearance on Ala Chebbi's show Andi Mankolek, or I've Got Something to Tell You, that poverty had forced her to give up school aged 14 to work on the family farm.

She also said that her father was frequently absent because of work, and that her relationship with him and her stepmother was poor.

Hajar's elder brother, Allala, who appeared alongside her on the show earlier this month, said he had approached the show out of despair after her father, ashamed at her pregnancy, had kicked her out of the family home

Hajar (L) appeared on the show alongside her brother (C), with her face pixelated during broadcast  

Although Tunisia is seen as relatively progressive on social matters among Muslim-majority countries, traditional attitudes are still widespread, and pregnancy before marriage is regarded by some as a matter of shame, regardless of the cause.

When Hajar's father joined the programme, Chebbi suggested to him that "whoever did it should marry her to close the case" and "contain the situation".

He asked Hajar who the father is, and she told him that she was not sure, but suspects the brother of her stepmother.

Told by her brother that all three alleged abusers were married, Chebbi added that "at least, he can recognise his child and give him his name".