Flag of Tunisia

The official flag of Tunisia is red in color. The flag is composed of a center circle colored with white where a crescent and five-pointed star, both in red, are placed. The flag of Tunisia was officially adopted in either 1831 or 1835 after the end of the Battle of Navarino on October 20, 1827. The adoption of the flag was made possible through the Bey of Tunis Al-Husayn II ibn Mahmud. Even as Tunisia became a French Protectorate, the flag was used continuously as the official flag. The flag was later validated as the official flag of the Republic of Tunisia right after the ratification of its Constitution.

The flag of Tunisia has a prominent similarity with that of Turkey. This is because the Beys, who once ruled Tunisia, were once the vassals of the Ottoman Empire. It must be known also that the Ottoman flag used crescent and star invariably in its flags. Essentially, both Turkish and Tunisian flags differ only in the position of the circle and the star, and the color of the crescent.

For Tunisia, the colors of its flag present an intense representation of its history. The red background on the flag symbolizes the struggles of Tunisian heroes during the Turkish attacks in 1574. Another explanation has it that the red flag casts light upon the Muslim world. The white color represents peace and the five-pointed star and crescent indicate union and harmony among the Muslims. It also symbolizes the Five Pillars of Islam. Another interpretation made by Ludvík Mucha tells that the center circle stands for the sun. The star and crescent are notable holy symbols of Islam and which are consistently adopted throughout the Muslim countries. He opined that the crescent symbolizes good luck and that the red color is a lasting icon against the domination of Turkey.

The flag of Tunisia, including its designs, were finally specified by law during the 1ate 1990s and has not been changed since then.