Tunisia bans Emirates Airlines flights

Tunis [Tunisia], Dec 25 (ANI): Tunisia has suspended all Emirates Airlines flights to and from the North African country.

The country's transport ministry announced it has suspended Emirates flights to Tunis until the airline finds the appropriate solution to operate flights "in accordance with international law and agreements," reported the Guardian.

The move comes two days after a number of Tunisian women were prevented from boarding their flights to Dubai on the United Arab Emirates-based carrier.

This prompted widespread angry reactions on social media and media outlets in Tunisia, with the rights groups condemning the measures as "discriminatory and racist."

"We contacted our Tunisian brothers about security information that necessitated taking specific procedures.... We highly value Tunisian women and respect them," he added, without elaborating," the UAE foreign minister Anwar Gargash, said, in a Twitter post.

On Friday, Tunisia asked the UAE ambassador to "provide clarification on the measure banning" Tunisian women from flying to or transiting through the Gulf state's territory, to which Zeabi reportedly said that the measure was "temporary and relating to security arrangements."

Tunisia has been making an effort to repair the otherwise strained diplomatic ties with the UAE.

The relationship between the Tunisia and UAE was damaged by former's 2011 revolution.

(ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI