Conference on Salafism in Tunisia: Marzouki calls for opening channels for dialogue
President Moncef Marzouki said that "stopping extremist moves whatever the ideological foundations means stopping the destructive violence of Tunisian lives and tarnishing of Tunisia's image abroad."
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Conference-on-S...
He argued that this depended largely on the opening of all channels for dialogue, he argued at the opening of a conference on Salafism in Tunisia, held at Carthage Palace,TAP reported.
Commenting on the incidents at Bir Ali Ben Khalifa, the Faculty of Manouba, the Abdellia Space and the US Embassy in Tunis, he said that they were often wrongly linked to the Salafist movement which Mr. Marzouki said they had created an unhealthy climate which increased the fear of Tunisians.
He noted that Tunisians saw this phenomena as a threat to the way of life of the majority , pointing out that it had
contributed at the same time to demonising another segment of Tunisian society.
He warned against the actions of some groups that sought to replace the State by trying to impose their law by force in some mosques and neighbourhoods in the country.
He said that it was true that political parties and a segment of the society were convinced that some political actors in the coalition government had turned a blind eye to these groups and were complicit with them for electoral considerations, he also indicated.
He called on the media, preachers, leaders of Salafist movements, families of Salafists, the political class and the Government to assume their responsibilities in addressing this phenomenon.
Speaking of the two young men held in the US Embassy attack who died after a two-month hunger strike, President Marzouki said he was unaware of this tragedy, indicating however that he takes full responsibility along with the State apparatus. However he cautioned against allowing the state to be blackmailed by hunger strikes to escape trial.
The Interim President also said he had agreed on Friday evening, with the Interim Prime Minister, and the Ministers of Justice and Health to create an independent committee to investigateand determine responsibility in this case involving two young men accused of being involved in the attack on the United States Embassy in Tunis.
The Salafist preacher and Vice President of the Tunisian League of Scholars and Preachers Bechir Belhassen, who gave a lecture as part of the Dialogues of Carthage, pointed out that hunger strikes were not mentioned in the Koran and Sunnah, stating that some young religious men, took verses from the Koran out of context.
He highlighted the need to initiate a dialogue with these youths, in co-operation with scholars and preachers to guard them against extremist, obscurantist and fanatical ideas.
The true definition of Salafism fits all times and matches the progress made in the areas of communication, health, science and other vital development sectors, he affirmed
Commenting on the incidents at Bir Ali Ben Khalifa, the Faculty of Manouba, the Abdellia Space and the US Embassy in Tunis, he said that they were often wrongly linked to the Salafist movement which Mr. Marzouki said they had created an unhealthy climate which increased the fear of Tunisians.
He noted that Tunisians saw this phenomena as a threat to the way of life of the majority , pointing out that it had
contributed at the same time to demonising another segment of Tunisian society.
He warned against the actions of some groups that sought to replace the State by trying to impose their law by force in some mosques and neighbourhoods in the country.
He said that it was true that political parties and a segment of the society were convinced that some political actors in the coalition government had turned a blind eye to these groups and were complicit with them for electoral considerations, he also indicated.
He called on the media, preachers, leaders of Salafist movements, families of Salafists, the political class and the Government to assume their responsibilities in addressing this phenomenon.
Speaking of the two young men held in the US Embassy attack who died after a two-month hunger strike, President Marzouki said he was unaware of this tragedy, indicating however that he takes full responsibility along with the State apparatus. However he cautioned against allowing the state to be blackmailed by hunger strikes to escape trial.
The Interim President also said he had agreed on Friday evening, with the Interim Prime Minister, and the Ministers of Justice and Health to create an independent committee to investigateand determine responsibility in this case involving two young men accused of being involved in the attack on the United States Embassy in Tunis.
The Salafist preacher and Vice President of the Tunisian League of Scholars and Preachers Bechir Belhassen, who gave a lecture as part of the Dialogues of Carthage, pointed out that hunger strikes were not mentioned in the Koran and Sunnah, stating that some young religious men, took verses from the Koran out of context.
He highlighted the need to initiate a dialogue with these youths, in co-operation with scholars and preachers to guard them against extremist, obscurantist and fanatical ideas.
The true definition of Salafism fits all times and matches the progress made in the areas of communication, health, science and other vital development sectors, he affirmed
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Conference-on-S...