Martyrs' Day

Martyrs' Day in Tunisia commemorates April 9, 1938, when French colonial forces repressed demonstrations in Tunis demanding a Tunisian parliament and representative political institutions. The mobilisation followed protests on April 8 and involved young people, women and Neo-Destour activists; deaths, injuries and arrests made the episode a major landmark in the nationalist movement.

Colonial authorities arrested Habib Bourguiba and other Neo-Destour leaders after the confrontation, but the demand for sovereignty continued through later phases of organisation, repression and negotiation. After independence, April 9 became the official remembrance of those killed. It is a solemn memorial date, not a celebration of violence or a substitute for the broader histories of resistance across the country.

The decree assigns one day of public-sector leave every April 9. Presidential Decree No. 2021-223 grants holiday leave to personnel of the State, local authorities and administrative public institutions; its wording is not a blanket rule for every private workplace. Labour Code articles 107-110 provide that paid non-working holidays in private employment are fixed by decree or collective agreements, protect covered pay and add an equal indemnity where an employee in a non-stoppable activity works the holiday. Employees must therefore check the rule or collective agreement governing their sector. Neither cited text creates a general next-working-day substitute when a holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday.