The government of Tunisia banned groups from holding protest marches today saying it is concerned they would turn violent . . . ultraconservative Muslims had called for protests over a now-closed art exhibit which they say is blasphemous . . . the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which has a majority in government, called for a counter-demonstration to “protect the revolution” . . . earlier in the week, religious mobs attacked the exhibit, other art galleries, unions, and police stations . . . hard-line groups say they will protest despite the ban . . . Tunisia, which started the Arab Spring by removing its long-time dictator last year, is struggling with religious tensions . . . although the government is dominated by moderate Islamists, they have retained secular law, resulting in anger from hard-line Muslims pushing for strict Sharia Islamic law . . . today’s protests are likely to attract small crowds and a large security force hoping to contain any violence.