| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Tunisians disavow takfirism |
| 2014-02-07 |
| [MAGHAREBIA] As takfir ...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed... ism continues to spread across the Maghreb, Tunisians agree it is time to disavow Death Eater views and stop labelling people with apostasy. Members of the Regional Federation of Labour in Kairouan were taken aback when they found takfirist graffiti on the front wall of their office on January 28th. "How many infidels crossed this entrance?" Shems FM quoted the graffiti as saying. Authorities have identified the suspected perpetrator. Zouhair, who declined to give his full name because he is a neighbour of the suspect, said, "This young man became hysterical after the ratification of the constitution, which he considered to be establishing an infidel state." "He thought Ennahda and the UGTT coalesced to prevent the implementation of Islamic law in Tunisia," he told Magharebia. According to security sources, the alleged culprit may soon appear before a judge. "I hope it is an isolated incident and not instigated by Death Eater groups. However, man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them... every incident excommunicating people must be confronted no matter its size," trade union activist Abdellah Khammasi told Magharebia. This was not the first time the UGTT was exposed to a demonising campaign. Last October, the interior ministry informed the UGTT of "serious threats" against its leaders, aimed at thwarting the union's mediation efforts in resolving the political crisis that ensued from the liquidation of opposition leader Mohammed Brahmi. "The direction of the UGTT was informed about the existence of serious threats targeting its leaders," the union's website read. Threat letters against UGTT chief Houcine Abbasi were published in syndicate's Echaab paper in December: "Abassi, we have decided to eliminate you on January 14. Either you meet Ennahda or we will put an end to your life." But the new Tunisian constitution aims to remedy this situation by banning accusations of apostasy. The new constitution "resolved the matter and made Tunisians recognise that excommunication is a crime punishable by law. This is a good thing that would make bully boyz re-examine their interpretation of religious affairs before uttering a word," said Shafiq Gharbi, a teacher. As for Zainab Riahi, a civil society activist, she said criminalising the excommunication of others was a step "that must be followed by other moves on the ground". "It should also be accompanied by other legal amendments and more stringent control of speeches made in mosques," she said, in order to stop every John Doe from issuing "religious edicts about matters he does not know or with which he is unfamiliar". |
| Posted by:Fred |