Near Riot in Tunisian University

University in Tunis

A young foreign student had a friend who was an English professor at the university of Tunis in Tunisia, North Africa. At the end of the semester, they were conducting exams. The student was asked by his friend to help him and come to the university to supervise classes while they waited to take their exams.  The student asked him if it would be OK if he brought some Bibles and give them to the students. He said, “I don't mind as long as you take the consequences of whatever happens.”  The student packed his backpack full of Arabic/English New Testaments, knowing that some of the students might find this to be an interesting and valuable book.

When they arrived, the classroom was mobbed and lots of students were hanging around and waiting for their turn to take the exams. The student stood in front of the class and said, “I have an announcement. I have some books here which are free—Arabic English New Testaments. If anyone would like to have one, you are welcome to have one.” Before he knew it, most of the students rushed forward and started grabbing for the New Testaments.  Books were flying everywhere and there was total chaos and a near riot. He didn't have enough for everybody so he make a list of names to try to get them Bibles later on. The Bible is a forbidden book in many of these Muslim countries. They want to know why it is forbidden and what is in it. Because it is forbidden, it generates curiosity among the young people.

Years later in another Muslim country, the student tried the same thing.  He was in a classroom full of Muslims who were studying French.  At the end of the course, he asked the teacher if he could hand out to each student, a French/Arabic book.  She said he could, and just as he started handing out French/Arabic New Testaments, the director of the school walked in.  Oops, not good timing. But the student gave one to him as well. Everyone was calm and grateful and one young man took 7 copies.  He wanted to sell them in his shop.

More information in Arabic about the Christian faith can be found at: www.maarifa.org