After news broke that the Tunisian government will be building an "anti-terror" wall on the Libyan border on July 8, a Facebook post went viral in Tunisia over the weekend showing a Game of Thrones-like map situated in the North African country. Published two days after the decision, the post was shared over 700 times.
The map, dubbed "A Song Of Ice and Friendly Fire," depicts the would-be locations of Westeros, the Wall, and even where the Wildlings beyond the Wall were. In the description, the author of the post, Ousama Ayari, linked certain Tunisian political figures to important GoT characters. Let's break it down for you.
1. Jon Snow – Habib Essid
Habib Essid is the current prime minister of Tunisia. He was first appointed in February after the adoption of a new constitution.
Jon Snow, whose lineage remains the subject of debate to this day, was a valiant brother of the Night's Watch. His wisdom and tactical thinking forced his fellow brothers to vote him as Lord Commander. His empathy for the Wildlings, however, angered his peers, who betrayed him, stabbing him in cold blood, Cesar-style, and we will never ever, ever, ever forgive them. Especially you, Olly.
The question is: Will Essid meet the same fate as Snow?
2. Lord Baelish – Mohsen Marzouk
Mohsen Marzouk is a Tunisian human rights activist, and secretary-general of the NGO Arab Democracy Foundation.
Lord Baelish, nicknamed "Little Finger," is a cunning character that nobody understands because he switches sides more often than any other GoT character we've known.
3. The White Walkers – Fajr Libya Militia
The Fajr Libya Militia are militants who contributed to the overthrowing of Libyan dictator Moammar al-Gaddafi in 2011. Presently, they have been associated with the "Libya Dawn" movement, a coalition of armed groups supporting the new General National Council, which is one of the major sides of the Second Libyan Civil War.
The White Walkers are a menacing, and approaching threat to Westeros as winter is coming.
4. Tyrion Lannister – Mohamed Abbou
Abbou is a lawyer, human rights advocate, and founder of the International Association For The Support of Political Prisoners. He staunchly opposed overthrown Tunisian president Zein al-Abeddin Ben Ali, and has previously served a prison sentence for publishing articles that criticized the then-ruler.
Tyrion Lannister is perhaps one of the only characters in GoT with a decent brain and a fan favourite. He was accused of murdering his nephew, and most hated character, Joffrey Baratheon (cough – Lannister) by his sister Cersei, and was sentenced to death by his own father, after losing a trial by combat. After escaping Westeros, he travelled to Mereen to act as councillor to Daenerys Targaryan, the Mother of Dragons.
5. Hodor – Ibrahim Kassas
Before getting elected as one of the 217 members of the Constituent Assembly of Tunisia, Kassas had no previous experience in politics, and admitted to learning everything by watching television.
Hodor is ... Hodor.
6. Arya Stark – Radhia Nasraoui
Nasraoui is a human rights activist and lawyer. She has been outspoken on state repression and torture, especially during Ben Ali's tenure, and is a co-founder of the Association Against Torture in Tunisia. She has been repeatedly assaulted, bullied, and has had her firm ransacked by police until the 2011 revolution.
After witnessing her father's (unjust!) execution (damn you, Joffrey), fleeing King's Landing, and fending for herself for more than 3 seasons, we can safely – and proudly – say that Arya Stark is a bad ass. She recently joined the Faceless Men, a religious society of assassins who worship the Many-Faced God. Valar Morghulis!