• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Tunisia: 5,000 Islamic supremacists rally, hail “the beginning of the end for the children of secularism”

May 24, 2012 4:13 am By Robert Spencer

The “Arab Spring” once again shows itself to be a “blessed Islamic revival.” “Tunisia: Salafist Congress In Kairouan Draws Thousands,” by Houda Trabelsi for Magharebia, May 24:

housands [sic] of salafists converged on Kairouan Sunday (May 20th) outside the Uqba Ibn Nafi Mosque for the second annual congress of the Ansar al-Sharia movement.

As many as 5,000 people from across the country attended the event led by salafist Sheikh Abou Iyadh (aka Seif Allah Ben Hassine) and Sheikh Al-Khatib El-Idrissi.

Abou Iyadh once fought in Afghanistan and was jailed by the Ben Ali regime before being freed from prison after the revolution. His speech to attendees focused on the economy, simultaneously reassuring investors while advancing the salafist agenda.

“You who impede the wheels of the economy in our country, fear God in our people and let investors invest in Tunisia, and enough of the random protests which harm average citizens and the economy,” Abou Iyadh said.

He also called on followers to establish an Islamic syndicate to “give the employee his due”, calling on supporters to “break away from the secular unions”.

Regarding Tunisian tourism, which many citizens see as threatened by the spread of the salafism, Abou Iyadh sought to calm anxiety. “Travel agencies, Why the fear of us? We ask God for guidance for you so that tourism is correct with Sharia, and for my brothers, we will not change evil with the hand but will change it with the call,” he said.

Organisers of the Ansar al-Sharia congress asked attendees to boycott all media on allegations that the Tunisian press had slandered salafism.

At the opening of the congress, there was a display of combat sports with hands, sticks and swords as a symbolic act signifying jihad, amid cheering and celebration.

Ridha Bel Haj, head of the banned Hizb Ettahrir, was among those present and gave a speech in which he stressed “the existence of a blessed Islamic revival”.

Meanwhile, Tunisia’s ruling Islamist party distanced itself from the salafist event. Amer Al-Arayedh, member of the Executive Office of Ennahda, told Magharebia that there was “no correlation between the salafist movement and the Ennahda movement. Each political party has its orientation and goals.”

“It is the right of the salafists in Tunisia to organise meetings and forums like any other movement, whether leftist or right-wing,” al-Arayedh said. “The important thing is maintaining public safety and not sparking riots and civil strife.”

On Monday, Justice Minister Noureddine Bhiri warned salafists over their attempt to forcibly ban the sale of alcohol in the town of Sidi Bouzid.

Addressing the attacks on bars, al-Arayedh said Ennahda was “against any form of violence and against the imposition of any behaviour, because the state is the only one responsible for public order and for giving licenses to bars or closing them, and individuals or parties must not impose what they want by force”.

Mohamed Zied Abid, a young salafist, said the event was “the beginning of the end for the children of secularism and the advocates of division and tearing apart the Islamic ranks”.

“It seems clear that this event is a starting point to break the link between this current and the Ennahda movement,” Tunisian Mohsen Achouri told Magharebia, adding, “especially as salafism in Tunisia, as happened in Egypt, began organising “˜politically” after licensing the salafi Reform Front party, and are awaiting licenses for other salafist parties, such as Hizb Ettahrir.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: Sharia, Tunisia


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • Henry Mansfield on Audio: Robert Spencer on Muslim Brotherhood influence in a Biden/Harris administration
  • Crusades Were Right on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West
  • Naildriver on Uighur leader: ‘We’re actually quite worried’ about what Biden might let China get away with
  • Crusades Were Right on Canadian Mental Health Association studies Muslim women’s mental health due to ‘discrimination’ and ‘hate crimes’
  • Crusades Were Right on Muslim cleric: ‘We welcomed the takeover of ISIS because they wanted to implement the Sharia’

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.