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BOURGUIBA RULE
In 1961 , the Tunisian troops invaded the French military base at Bizerte , the last area of Tunisia still under French control . The French paratroops - flown in from Algeria - and aircraft in return launched a bloody operation in which more than 1000 Tunisians died during only 90 hours of fighting . In 1963 , the French finally decided to withdrew from Bizerte . Bourguiba started to modernize both Tunisia's economy and society introducing sweeping legal and social changes . The principals of his reformation policy ware both socialist and secular with elements from westernization . The result of his fierce efforts made Tunisia a showcase for successful postcolonial development . In 1975 the National Assembly decided to grant Bourguiba the presidency for life . Bourguiba regarded religion as a force preventing the country from making much progress . He thus sought to deprive religious leaders of their effective role in shaping society by closing religious schools and abolishing Sharia (Islamic law) courts . These changes were vehemently opposed and for a The 1970s witnessed a gradual rise of an Islamic opposition . The support for this opposition was further increased after the use of the military to crush a general strike in January 1978 , which caused killing of dozens of people . in 1981 , forced by increas¬ing pressure at home and abroad , Bourguiba called the first multiparty elections without allowing the Islamic opposition to participate in it . Bourguiba government's clashes with the Islamic militants went on during the 80s as well . During these years , the government was keen on conducting a harsh and effective clampdown against the Islamist opposition . This internal struggle however seemed to take much of the concern of Bourguiba and his government as he was seen as being increasingly not concerned about the needs of the common people . In an incident in which Bourguiba demanded that several Islamists be executed because of their plotting to overthrow the government , the prime minister Zine el-Abidine ben Ali on 7 November 1987 , believing that such action would cause a popular uprising , instead seized power in a bloodless coup , as a group of appointed doctors declared the 83-year-old president physically and mentally incapable of holding to his positions' demands and duties . Bourguiba died later at the age Habib Bourguiba is considered the ruler who has widely shaped modern Tunisia . He is remembered not only for having led his country to independence but also for modernizing many aspects of Tunisia identity . He has advanced women's right , instituted fierce reforms that in some cases ran counter to Sharia law , increased literacy and brought tunisians a standard of living that elevated the position of Tunisia among the other countries of the developing world . There is a bronze door of Bourguiba's mausoleum in monastir on which there are the words: 'The supreme combatant , the Liberator of Women , the builder of modern Tunisia' . |
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