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| Africa North |
| Tunisia pursues mosque neutrality |
| 2014-02-15 |
| [MAGHAREBIA] Tunisia's new non-partisan government wants mosques to take a neutral stance with regard to political activities. "Political leaders are going to be prevented from making political speeches in mosques," Religious Affairs Minister Mounir Tlili said Monday (February 10th). The ministry's press officer, Najet Hammami, told Magharebia that authorities were "going to address the issue of mosques and see how to implement the guidelines of the roadmap, especially through reviewing the appointment of some imams". The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA) and the Tunisian Bar Association have joined the call for Acting Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa to rid places of worship of the influence of hardline salafist movements. The religious affairs ministry estimates that 20 mosques are still under the control of such salafists. After the revolution, Tunisian mosques witnessed chaos, from the spread of now-outlawed bad boy group Ansar al-Sharia ...a Salafist militia which claims it is not part of al-Qaeda, even though it works about the same and for the same ends. There are groups of the same name in Libya, Tunisia and Yemen, with the Libyan and Tunisian versions currently most active... to 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... ist speeches against political opponents. Some political figures, including Ennahda leader Rachid Ghannouchi, used mosques to deliver Friday sermons. In the latest developments, terror suspect Ahmad al-Maliki confessed during interrogation that he killed opposition political figure Mohammed Brahmi after the issuance of a fatwa in an Ariana mosque, Akher Khabar reported on February 11th. Charges of apostasy had also been levelled in some mosques against slain leftist politician Chokri Belaid. The imam of Lakhmi Mosque in Sfax is also known to be a turban with speeches inciting against the UGTT. Meanwhile, ...back at the dirigible, Jack stuck the cigar in his mouth, stepped onto the gantry, and asked Got a light, Mac? Von Schtinken stopped short, lowering the dagger and trying to control his features. If you light that thing, Herr Armschtröng,he pointed out, his voice tense, we all die!... security forces on Tuesday forced members of radical religious groups, who sell perfume, jihad books and Afghani shirts near al-Fath Mosque in the capital, to vacate the site. The same day, the director general of the religious affairs ministry, Abdesattar Badr, said that some 289 imams and mosque curators had been sacked "during the last quarter of 2013." "We are periodically ending the assignments of imams, especially because of their failure to respect the terms of the mosques and because of partisan or personal sermons," he said. The presence of radical imams has led some citizens to avoid or change mosques. Murad Korbi, a 54-year-old public employee, said he stood clear of mosques because of imams who advocated for Islamist parties. |
| Posted by:Fred |