By: Said Temsamani
The murder of Chokri Belaid, leftist leader and lawyer known for his outspoken opposition to radical Islam demonstrates that the situation in Tunisia has reached a critical point. The country where the Arab Spring was born two years ago and enjoyed even under the dictatorship of Ben Ali, a certain freedom of manners, is now at risk of suffering a brutal kick.
Transition in Tunisia is stalled for two main reasons. One is that political parties do not totally agree to provide the Tunisian democratic constitution a delay. Secularists are increasingly distrustful because they fear that their freedoms, especially in regard to the rights of women and religious beliefs, are being severed. The second problem is that the radicals (Salafists), with the connivance or at least the moderate Islamist government in action, have been carried out in recent months a campaign of intimidation and threats to civil society, banning art exhibits, shrines have been destroyed considered impure, threatened and persecuted professors and teachers many of them are women for not wearing the niqab (face veil).
The social unrest triggered by the assassination of opposition yesterday incited thousands of people to the streets of several cities, including the capital, and triggered several burning of Ennhada headquarters, the ruling Islamist party. Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali, in a televised statement announced a reshuffle of the government formed only by technocrats. But it is a temporary solution that is far from resolving the underlying problems will not calm the youths who were able to expel a dictator.
The Tunisian government, proclaimed by Ghannouchi, the historic Tunisian Islamist leader will not become “a democratic society and a model in the Arab world” as promised post the toppling of the Tunisian dictator and the organisation of legislative election. In fact , the current government is facing an inescapable challenge: to demonstrate its commitment to democracy over any ideology or religion. And that should include credible action against Salafist thugs. That commitment should lead to a constitution acceptable by the whole society.
Said Temsamani is a Moroccan political observer and consultant, who follows events in his country and across North Africa. He is a Senior Fellow, Merdian International Center Washington DC, Founder and CEO “Public Initiatives” Consulting firm and Former Senior Political Advisor, US Embassy Rabat, Morocco.
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