President Marzouki meets Salafists
The protection of religion and the way to deal with the Salafist movement were the major issues discussed at a meeting, in Carthage, between interim President Moncef Marzouki and some Salafist leaders.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/President-Marzo...
During the talk "emphasis was placed on the role of the State in protecting the religion against any attack against it and preserving mosques," Salafist leader Khemaïes Mejri told TAP.
Mr. Mejri also denounced a "fierce media campaign, "against Salafists, expressing his astonishment at the activation of the anti-terror law."Torture, phone tapping and aggressions still continue," he said."Salafists are not a religious group," he indicated ",but are rather Tunisians who have undertaken to foster citizens' spirituality and values."He stressed the right of women to wear the niqab (full-face veil) and the right of students to perform prayers within universities.He called for the repeal of the anti-terror law and enshrining equality between all Tunisians without any distinction. Violence by salafist groups trying to enforceislamic norms of dress and behaviour, often uncontrolled by the police has been widespread in Tunisia and culminated in the attack on the American embassy. Following the attack the members of the attack publically condemned salafist violence.
The meeting with President Marzouki followed controversy over a leaked video of a conversation between Rachid Ghannouchi head of Ennhada and a group of Salafists which appeared to to encourage the salafist movement in Tunisia. This has caused a storm of criticism in the Tunisian popular press accusing the Ennhada leader is saying one thing to the secular and international world and another to the salafists themselves. The divisions between secular and islamist elements in Tunisian society are widening and the economic situation is giving cause for increasing concern.
The Union body, the UGTT has called for a national conferenceof all parties and actors to consider the country's future La Presse reports.
Mr. Mejri also denounced a "fierce media campaign, "against Salafists, expressing his astonishment at the activation of the anti-terror law."Torture, phone tapping and aggressions still continue," he said."Salafists are not a religious group," he indicated ",but are rather Tunisians who have undertaken to foster citizens' spirituality and values."He stressed the right of women to wear the niqab (full-face veil) and the right of students to perform prayers within universities.He called for the repeal of the anti-terror law and enshrining equality between all Tunisians without any distinction. Violence by salafist groups trying to enforceislamic norms of dress and behaviour, often uncontrolled by the police has been widespread in Tunisia and culminated in the attack on the American embassy. Following the attack the members of the attack publically condemned salafist violence.
The meeting with President Marzouki followed controversy over a leaked video of a conversation between Rachid Ghannouchi head of Ennhada and a group of Salafists which appeared to to encourage the salafist movement in Tunisia. This has caused a storm of criticism in the Tunisian popular press accusing the Ennhada leader is saying one thing to the secular and international world and another to the salafists themselves. The divisions between secular and islamist elements in Tunisian society are widening and the economic situation is giving cause for increasing concern.
The Union body, the UGTT has called for a national conferenceof all parties and actors to consider the country's future La Presse reports.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/President-Marzo...