Judge Salafists by political performance

Mohammed Khouja Tunis - Nabil Zaghdoud The chairman of Tunisia's Salafist Islah Front (Reform Front) party, Mohammed Khouja, has denied that licensing his organisation was part of a deal with the current government. The Tunisian government this year granted a licence to the party based on puritanical Islam for the first time in a country known for its secular character. Some however allege that moderate-Islamist Ennahda is trying to rein in the country's Salafists by granting them legitimacy, something they did not enjoy during the reign of ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The move is apparently to stop Salafists from conducting violent extremism by getting them involved in politics. Interviewed by Arabstoday, Khouja insisted his party had no contact with Ennahda or the government before applying for a licence, "which the Reform Front earned only by meeting the legal criteria for establishing a political party". A government source had earlier confirmed that the licence had been granted in accordance with Tunisia's parties law, which stipulates respect for the civil nature of the Tunisian state. Ennahda’s co-founder and leader, Rachid al-Ghannouchi, had said previously that Salafist parties should be licensed as long as they embrace democracy, offering them a stake in the new system rather than locking them out as Ben Ali had done. The hardline Islamist leader called on Tunisian society not to be affected by the "negative image" of the Salafist movement created by the media, saying the new party should be judged by its political performance rather than the "improper conduct of some 'extra-passionate' Salafists". "The media have always tried to defame us and portray us as a violent movement, in order to make people fear Salafists, but this image is completely fabricated. The fact is we are a moderate Islamist party, which believes in peaceful power transfer. Our core values are based on the Qur'an and the teachings of Prophet Mohammed, as understood by the Salaf (early generations of Muslims). We are inspired by the Islamic concepts of great Muslim figures, since the early Caliphs, up to the modern Tunisian Islamic preachers, like Sheikh Ben Ashour," said Khouja. “Our goal in the long term is the establishment of an open and tolerant Islamic state which does not exclude anyone,” Khouja said in an earlier interview. Khouja referred to the history of Salafists in Tunisian politics, that began in the late 1980s, by the foundation of the Islamist Front in 1989, a secret organisation that didn't last for long after its members were arrested in 1990. They were then prosecuted for belonging to an unlicensed organisation. Salafists follow a strict interpretation of Islam and seek to emulate the sayings and doings of the earliest Muslims more than 1000 years ago. Until last year, they had tended not seek a role in parliamentary politics, which many denounced as a Western import. But they have begun to shift their position in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings. "We tried before to be involved in politics, but this was not possible as the country was ruled by a dictatorial regime. We believe that Islam is a religion that supports freedom and democracy, as it is a comprehensive religion, whose concepts can be adopted in all aspects of life including politics, so we don't accept a separation between religion and politics. On the other hand, we are not willing to establish a religious state," he said. Khouja also stated his party supported the idea of drafting a new chapter in the Tunisian constitution, stating that Sharia (Islamic law), was the sole source of legislation in the country, as majority of Tunisians are Muslim, "so laws managing their life shouldn't contradict Sharia". "Chapter one, which states that Islam is the state's official religion, is not enough, it was included in the constitution during (president Habib) Bourguiba and Ben Ali's eras, but it didn't have any influence and was totally ignored. We will push for drafting this new chapter, especially if we decide to run in the next election," added Khouja. The ultra-conservative Islamists did not take part in the October 2011 ballot that thrust Ennahda to power with a leading 42 percent stake in parliament. On his party's stance towards individual freedoms, Khouja said: "We will show full respect to civil concepts of the state, and we will never impose anything on the people, including praying and wearing hijab or niqab. We will just call for what we think is right, but in the end, people are free to follow what they believe in. This also applies to tourism facilities, we don't intend to close down hotels or bars, as we don't want to create an economic crisis in the country." “Our party will be open to all Tunisians who agree with our principles, the principles of reform within the Islamic heritage,” said Khouja in an earlier interview. “But we will not accept any assault on our religious sacraments and we will seek to express the demands of the Muslim people.” Regarding laws related to personal and social relations, which some hardline Islamists have stated must be changed, Khouja said he believed that only the laws which didn't agree with Sharia needed to be amended, including a law banning polygamy. The Reform Front chairman also blamed the media for recent tension in Tunisia between Islamists and secular groups, saying: "Islamists are not interested in being involved in interior conflicts, as they only aim to live in peace and to contribute to progress and development in Tunisia."