Taqiyya alert: As Tunisia’s Islamists chalk up the first of likely many electoral victories in the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ in Tunisia’s elections, they are seeking to reassure the nervous, secular (i.e. less than pious) Muslims that they’re not going to set up a religious dictatorship. At least not right away. Why would anyone need to be concerned about that? Note the mainstream media article’s characterization of the winners as being ‘moderate’ — moderate according to whom and by what standards? Following up this earlier Jihad Watch story: “Tunisia’s Islamists seek to reassure secularists,” MSNBC, 26 October 2011:
TUNIS””Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party on Tuesday claimed a thumping victory in the country’s first election, sending a message to the region that
once-banned Islamists are challenging for power after the “Arab Spring.”With election officials still counting ballots from Sunday’s vote “” the first to follow as a result of the uprisings which began in Tunisia and spread through the region “” the Ennahda party said its own tally showed it had won. Several of its biggest rivals conceded defeat.
Ennahda was in talks with rivals on Tuesday about forming an interim coalition government to lead the birthplace of the Arab Spring through its transition to democracy.
Tunisia has a strong secular tradition, and Ennahda officials promised a broad-based coalition.
How far should one trust an Islamist? Even if such promises of having a ‘broad based coalition’ are carried out, it’s nothing but window dressing. The Islamists will certain cast aside their coalition partners once they are no longer needed.
Seeking to reassure secularists in Tunisia and elsewhere who see a threat to liberal values in the region, party officials said they would share power and would not try to push through radical measures.
“There will be no rupture. There will be continuity because we came
to power via democracy, not through tanks,” campaign manager Abdelhamid
Jlazzi said at party headquarters.
Power sharing! See, that should head off all possible problems. And as for the promised continuity, now that they are in power, there they shall remain. One man, one vote, one time.
“We suffered from dictatorship and repression and now is an historic
opportunity to savor the taste of freedom and democracy,” he said.
Freedom and democracy as allowed within the bounds of Sharia, of course.
Shortly before he spoke, an Ennahda female candidate who does not wear the Islamic head scarf, or hijab, sang along to Lebanese and Tunisian
pop songs on a stage. The party says her inclusion is proof of its
moderate outlook.
Apparently music, singing and no hijab equal ‘moderation’.