Dozens of people partook in a protest in front of the US embassy in the city of Tunis on September 12, 2012. Most of the protesters were Salafists demonstrating against the American movie "Innocence of Muslims" which caricaturises the Muslim prophet Muhammad. The film has been called blasphemous and Islamophobic.
The majority of protesters were Salafists and may belong to a group called the "Jihadists," which translates to "holy war" against the perceived enemies of Islam.
Protesters proclaimed a "jihad" against the US and raised pictures of Osama Bin Laden, Salafist flags, and burned an American flag t-shirt. It was difficult for journalists to document the event, as protesters prevented them from filming.
The United States embassy was well-guarded by the Tunisian police, whose numbers equaled those of the protesters.
Rumors were circulating among protesters that a larger and more important demonstration will take place this Friday, September 14 with hundreds of people.
It is worth mentioning that on the same day as the protest, the US embassy released a communiqué telling employees of the risks involved in frequenting public places and to limit their traveling as much as possible.