Different views of democratic change in Tunisia.
Last week salafists protesting in Manouba University caused concern by replacing the Tunisian flag with their own Black islamic flag.The President Moncef Marzouki and many Tunisians criticised this action as a national disgrace.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Different-views...
Democracy can it seems mean different things to different groups persuing their own interests and beliefs. An article by Associated Press raises the spectre of a culture war between salafists who were harshly suppressed by the Ben Ali regime and Tunisia's securalists who demand the protection of the civil rights which have attacked by salafists, women have been assaulted for not observing islamic dress codes, aritists and broadcasters have been bullied and assaulted and a TV station has been blocked by a salafist demonstration.Manouba University has seen its examinations broought to a halt as salafists have invaded the campus.
The salafists counter that they are offended by what they regards as a failure to observe decency and islamic codes of behaviour. Some of them are clling for sharia and the establishment of a caliphate.
Caught in the midddle is the moderate islamist Ennhada government who are reluctant to act against the salafists because of the Ben Ali regime's repression which they also suffered.
Said Ferjani, a high ranking member of Ennahda, told The Associated Press that the last thing they wanted right now was a culture war between the Salafis and what he calls the "secular fundamentalists."
"We are dealing with the business of government, we have floods in the north, a sinking economy and these people are talking about the burqa and the hijab (headscarf)," he said with exasperation. "I don't think they are very grown up."
Those sympathizing with the Salafis' ultraconservative views are estimated to be a small minority — Ferjani suggests just 3 percent of the population — but they are locked in a cycle of provocation and reaction with the secular elite that's spilling out into the streets.
"There is a war of lifestyles, someone from one group wants to impose their lifestyle on the other group," said Ferjani. "They each believe in freedom of speech only for themselves."
"Sometimes the line between the Salafis and Ennahda's activists are a bit blurred," said Kamel Labidi, a former journalist now heading the committee rewriting the country's media law.
The AP article raises the spectre ofarmed struggle bearing in mind the disorder and abundance of weapons in Libya and the fact that three armed salafists were stopped and engaged in a firefight with police.However Tunisians being a sensible, peace loving and industrious society will probably avoid this fate.
Ferjani of Ennahda says to AP that the government is trying a lenient approach with the Salafis so that they aren't further radicalized, attempting to address their concerns with education and religious debate rather than just denouncing them as backward.
"If you push these people, you are empowering them," he warned.
However for a small group the salafists are making big waves in Tunisan society and what happens in Tunisia regarding this issue could have ramifications for the whole of North Africa where traditionally moderation and tolerance have prevailed
The salafists counter that they are offended by what they regards as a failure to observe decency and islamic codes of behaviour. Some of them are clling for sharia and the establishment of a caliphate.
Caught in the midddle is the moderate islamist Ennhada government who are reluctant to act against the salafists because of the Ben Ali regime's repression which they also suffered.
Said Ferjani, a high ranking member of Ennahda, told The Associated Press that the last thing they wanted right now was a culture war between the Salafis and what he calls the "secular fundamentalists."
"We are dealing with the business of government, we have floods in the north, a sinking economy and these people are talking about the burqa and the hijab (headscarf)," he said with exasperation. "I don't think they are very grown up."
Those sympathizing with the Salafis' ultraconservative views are estimated to be a small minority — Ferjani suggests just 3 percent of the population — but they are locked in a cycle of provocation and reaction with the secular elite that's spilling out into the streets.
"There is a war of lifestyles, someone from one group wants to impose their lifestyle on the other group," said Ferjani. "They each believe in freedom of speech only for themselves."
"Sometimes the line between the Salafis and Ennahda's activists are a bit blurred," said Kamel Labidi, a former journalist now heading the committee rewriting the country's media law.
The AP article raises the spectre ofarmed struggle bearing in mind the disorder and abundance of weapons in Libya and the fact that three armed salafists were stopped and engaged in a firefight with police.However Tunisians being a sensible, peace loving and industrious society will probably avoid this fate.
Ferjani of Ennahda says to AP that the government is trying a lenient approach with the Salafis so that they aren't further radicalized, attempting to address their concerns with education and religious debate rather than just denouncing them as backward.
"If you push these people, you are empowering them," he warned.
However for a small group the salafists are making big waves in Tunisan society and what happens in Tunisia regarding this issue could have ramifications for the whole of North Africa where traditionally moderation and tolerance have prevailed
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Different-views...