Creeping Islamization
The crucible of the Arab Spring has been transformed from what it was to what it is. It is now become an Islamist state. It was not that, before. And now, Tunisian civil society along with the secular opposition of the Enahda Islamist Movement which now is in control of the country, is exceedingly concerned. Authorities are becoming more Islamicly strict.Hitherto, a great tourist destination and relaxed over the Islamic prohibition against alcohol, things have changed. Tunisia is not yet as fundamentally charged with ensuring Islamic practise is observed, as are other countries like Saudi Arabia, but what concerns critics is that it seems to be headed in that direction.
Whereas traditionally Tunisia allowed certain areas popular with tourists and foreigners, along with bars and restaurants in those areas to reflect a cosmopolitan outlook on life, where even during Ramadan tourists were able to procure alcoholic beverages, that has changed. "Creeping Islamization" is what those opposing the growing strictures reflecting Sharia law, are concerned about.
Even the country's national flag carrier - Tunisair - is reflecting the new Islamist concerns that the country protect and promote traditional Islamic values. Boding ill for the large tourism industry. And not exactly warming the hearts of those Tunisians who eschew religion and resent their freedoms to act as they wish, as they always have, being curtailed.
Soufiene Chourabi, a blogger and secular activist has discovered that he might, after all, miss former president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, whom he had been formerly wont to criticize. He has taken to issuing warnings that the Ennahda Islamist Movement, leading the current government, is intent on imposing an increasing number of social restrictions on public freedom.
Which does not reflect what most Tunisians felt their revolution was all about.
Nor did Mr. Chourabi envision himself being arrested for drinking alcohol during the holy month of Ramadan. Yet this is precisely what has occurred to him; arrested in the company of two friends because they were seen by police drinking on a beach in the town of Menzel Temime. Morality police are like that in Islamist societies, on the lookout for severe infractions of Islamist values.
Mr. Chourabi and his friends may now be looking forward to six months in prison on charges of public drunkenness and the breach of public morality.
Labels: Africa, Heritage, Human Rights, Islamism
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, August 09, 2012
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