From Jihad Watch:
Exiled pro-Sharia leader set to return to Tunisia
But he says that he wants to establish true democracy in Tunisia. However, it is unclear in that case what would make him an Islamist, which is a term generally applied to adherents of political Islam. It seems that he wants to establish Sharia, but wants to do it as an expression of the popular will.
"Exiled Islamist party leader set to return to Tunisia," from France24, January 24:
Rached Ghannouchi, leader of Tunisia's Islamic party Ennahda, said Monday in an interview with FRANCE 24 that he was hoping to return to Tunisia in the coming days after spending 20 years in exile in London.
The Islamist movement in Tunisia was one of the most repressed opposition movements under ousted president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who fled the country earlier this month.
Members were jailed or sent into exile, and the party was banned from politics. In a recent wave of protests leading to Ben Ali's downfall, the Islamist movement did not play a visible role. But after Ben Ali left power, Tunisia's interim government granted amnesty to all political prisoners and allowed banned parties, including Ennahda, to return to the political scene.
Ghannouchi said he would step down as Ennahda's party leader to pave the way for "a younger and more qualified generation" to lead the movement. Ghannouchi clearly stated that he did not want to be part of the new Tunisian government. "It is not my plan to take up any government post, but we will keep up political pressure until full democratic change is attained."
For Ghannouchi, the current interim government is "an extension of Ben Ali's fallen regime". "Most of the old figures still remain in the interim government," he said.
Ennahda's chief said his movement favoured creating a special assembly that would draw up a constitution for a truly democratic new regime.
"If the constitution does not change, a new dictator will once again take over in Tunisia," he said.
Posted by Robert on January 25, 2011 8:41 AM
Exiled pro-Sharia leader set to return to Tunisia
But he says that he wants to establish true democracy in Tunisia. However, it is unclear in that case what would make him an Islamist, which is a term generally applied to adherents of political Islam. It seems that he wants to establish Sharia, but wants to do it as an expression of the popular will.
"Exiled Islamist party leader set to return to Tunisia," from France24, January 24:
Rached Ghannouchi, leader of Tunisia's Islamic party Ennahda, said Monday in an interview with FRANCE 24 that he was hoping to return to Tunisia in the coming days after spending 20 years in exile in London.
The Islamist movement in Tunisia was one of the most repressed opposition movements under ousted president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who fled the country earlier this month.
Members were jailed or sent into exile, and the party was banned from politics. In a recent wave of protests leading to Ben Ali's downfall, the Islamist movement did not play a visible role. But after Ben Ali left power, Tunisia's interim government granted amnesty to all political prisoners and allowed banned parties, including Ennahda, to return to the political scene.
Ghannouchi said he would step down as Ennahda's party leader to pave the way for "a younger and more qualified generation" to lead the movement. Ghannouchi clearly stated that he did not want to be part of the new Tunisian government. "It is not my plan to take up any government post, but we will keep up political pressure until full democratic change is attained."
For Ghannouchi, the current interim government is "an extension of Ben Ali's fallen regime". "Most of the old figures still remain in the interim government," he said.
Ennahda's chief said his movement favoured creating a special assembly that would draw up a constitution for a truly democratic new regime.
"If the constitution does not change, a new dictator will once again take over in Tunisia," he said.
Posted by Robert on January 25, 2011 8:41 AM
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