From The Telegraph (U.K.) and Alliance Defense Fund:
Islamist movement at forefront of Tunisia's protests
Tunisia's underground Islamic movement has emerged at the forefront of nationwide protests against its leadership and appears set to emerge as the strongest political force in elections.
Islamist movement at forefront of Tunisia's protests
Tunisia's underground Islamic movement has emerged at the forefront of nationwide protests against its leadership and appears set to emerge as the strongest political force in elections.
Protesters stand off against a line of riot police during a demonstration in Tunis Photo: REUTERS By Damien McElroy, Tunis 5:04PM GMT 21 Jan 2011
Al-Nadha is lead by the London-based exile Rachid Ghannouchi who has said that he will return to the country as soon as the threat of life in prison is lifted.
Mr Ghannouchi has the best claims to an electoral following in Tunisia after the disintegration of the ruling party. He has wide core support at the country's universities and his followers secured 17 per cent in 1989's election – an unrivalled following in Tunisia's rigged electoral system.
Senior lieutenants of the fundamentalist leader were yesterday prominent in the thousands strong crowd that demanded the resignation of all ministers – including Prime Minister Mohammed Ghanouchi – tainted by service to ousted dictator, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.
Sadouk Chourou, a Tunis lawyer, has been seen organising groups within the protest.
Ali Laraiedh, the Al-Nadha vice president, said that party activists of the banned movement had been mobilised.
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While repeating the group's message, he gives only guarded signals about the agenda the group would pursue if it tastes power. Mr met with the prime minister during the week to set out Al-Nadha's demands.
"The people have not yet achieved everything they could have done. We want a government that is able to make a democracy and that means the prime minister must go," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is too early to talk about what happens after the election but we will move like other Islamic parties, just that we will be a little more emancipated."
Tunisia's strong record of promoting women's rights and liberal stance on social issues such as the sale of alcohol is vulnerable as its political system is torn apart by the popular uprising.
Sana Bel Mkaddem, a Tunis resident, said she was fearful her rights would be eroded after elections. "We need to know what the parties represent. Most Tunisians are open-minded and view religion as a private issue but because of the past of this country, I'm worried that we could see the Islamisation that we've seen in other countries."
Traditional views retain a strong following that Al-Nadha could capture in the elections. "The youth need jobs but they also don't understand the faith," said Sara Abid, 65, a restaurant owner. "I hope our country can bring them back to God."
While the party leaders have refused to outline specific plans Ennadha supporters have expectations of change. "I want my fiancé to wear a veil but she says she can't because the university rules don't allow covered women in the classrooms," said one unemployed Tunis man. "I think women can work but must follow the family's wishes."
Islamist movement at forefront of Tunisia's protests
Tunisia's underground Islamic movement has emerged at the forefront of nationwide protests against its leadership and appears set to emerge as the strongest political force in elections.
Islamist movement at forefront of Tunisia's protests
Tunisia's underground Islamic movement has emerged at the forefront of nationwide protests against its leadership and appears set to emerge as the strongest political force in elections.
Protesters stand off against a line of riot police during a demonstration in Tunis Photo: REUTERS By Damien McElroy, Tunis 5:04PM GMT 21 Jan 2011
Al-Nadha is lead by the London-based exile Rachid Ghannouchi who has said that he will return to the country as soon as the threat of life in prison is lifted.
Mr Ghannouchi has the best claims to an electoral following in Tunisia after the disintegration of the ruling party. He has wide core support at the country's universities and his followers secured 17 per cent in 1989's election – an unrivalled following in Tunisia's rigged electoral system.
Senior lieutenants of the fundamentalist leader were yesterday prominent in the thousands strong crowd that demanded the resignation of all ministers – including Prime Minister Mohammed Ghanouchi – tainted by service to ousted dictator, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.
Sadouk Chourou, a Tunis lawyer, has been seen organising groups within the protest.
Ali Laraiedh, the Al-Nadha vice president, said that party activists of the banned movement had been mobilised.
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While repeating the group's message, he gives only guarded signals about the agenda the group would pursue if it tastes power. Mr met with the prime minister during the week to set out Al-Nadha's demands.
"The people have not yet achieved everything they could have done. We want a government that is able to make a democracy and that means the prime minister must go," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is too early to talk about what happens after the election but we will move like other Islamic parties, just that we will be a little more emancipated."
Tunisia's strong record of promoting women's rights and liberal stance on social issues such as the sale of alcohol is vulnerable as its political system is torn apart by the popular uprising.
Sana Bel Mkaddem, a Tunis resident, said she was fearful her rights would be eroded after elections. "We need to know what the parties represent. Most Tunisians are open-minded and view religion as a private issue but because of the past of this country, I'm worried that we could see the Islamisation that we've seen in other countries."
Traditional views retain a strong following that Al-Nadha could capture in the elections. "The youth need jobs but they also don't understand the faith," said Sara Abid, 65, a restaurant owner. "I hope our country can bring them back to God."
While the party leaders have refused to outline specific plans Ennadha supporters have expectations of change. "I want my fiancé to wear a veil but she says she can't because the university rules don't allow covered women in the classrooms," said one unemployed Tunis man. "I think women can work but must follow the family's wishes."
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