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![[Tunisia]](Tunisia/tn.gif)
The white
disc in the middle represents the sun and containing a red Osmanli
(Turkish) crescent and a five-pointed star - the two ancient symbols
of Islam. The shape of the waxing moon (from the point of view of an
Arab observer of the flag) bribgs luck. Red became a symbol of
resistance against Turkish supremacy <sic> (Source: Webster's
Concise Encyclopedia of Flags & Coats of Arms, Crampton, 1985)
Quite
true, but the Tunisians themselves seem to overlook the Turkish
origin of their flag, or at least to be undisturbed by it. In the
Military Museum outside Tunis there is a display showing the
similarity between the current flag and that used by the Beylical
government in the 19th century. The tone of the display is pride in
the continuity of national identity. I suspect
that during the extended period of French colonial domination,
Tunisians looked back at the crescent and star on a white circle as
the emblem of national sovereignty, since it had been the flag under
which their last independent government had ruled. It was therefore
natural for them to retain/return to that flag when the French
departed. Maybe the important
point is that the Tunisians--at least when independence came in the
1960s--didn't identify the Turks as their oppressors and were
therefore not bothered by the Turkish derivation of their flag. Just
speculation, but it makes sense to me.
National
flag was adopted in 1835 and legislated on Constitution on Jun 1st
1959.
You can see
the Tunisia's Coat of Arms, at:
http://www.tunisie.com/basicfr.html.
![[Tunisian Coat of Arms]](Tunisia/tn).gif)
Motto
reads: "order, freedom and justice". Lion is for order, ship is for
freedom and balance is for justice. Ship reminds of historical
Fenician history of the country, and its today's maritime interests.
I'm not
sure about the color but here's another website that shows it with a
yellow backgrond (this is the tunisian
government's website):
http://www.ministeres.tn/html/armorie.html .
Dorling-Kindersley Pocket Book shows only the version with
multicolor background, with the following text:
"The coat of arms of Tunisia has been altered since the abolition of
the monarchy, most rcently in 1963, and unusually has the motto on a
scroll actually on the shield. The ship (also recalls early
settlers), lion andbalance were retained from the previous arms and
symbolize the national motto."
COA was
adopted on Constitution on May 30th 1963 and modified on Sep 2nd
1989.
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