Islam in Tunisian Politics

With all of the current revolutions and rebellions going on in the world it's easy to forget the first country to start this movement, Tunisia. While the focus has been on elsewhere Tunisia is still in a sensitive place especially in it's politics. While the Tunisian people did manage to overthrow their authoritarians after decades of rule one thing they can't agree on is how religion and politics are going to mix. In the middle of all of the commotion following the revolution there was a more interesting problem in Tunis (the nation's capital); protecting the city's brothels from boards of religious fanatics.

The group attacked the city's brothels yelling and throwing rocks in the alleyways of Tunis, where prostitution is legal. The police have been forced into a position of putting down the Muslims who are against these brothels. The politics of the past in Tunisia have been shockingly advanced for a country that has 9.8 million out of it's 10 million residents practicing Islam. Not only is prostitution legal, but so are abortions, and alcohol and women are even allowed to wear bikini's.

The main concern right now is the move to make Tunisia a strict Muslim country with strict laws much like the rest of the middle east. Women are the most scared and have the most to lose should this be the case. In a country that fought for it's freedom the women in the country are prepared to fight for theirs. In one of the biggest demonstrations since the overthrow of their former leader, the Tunisian people demanded the separations of church and state. However, the recent re-formation of the Muslim political movement called Ennahdha and it's alignment with Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood have cause more than a little discomfort. However, as we have seen in recent weeks this country is full of people who are willing to stand up for their rights and what they fell is best for their country.

Spencer Darrow

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/world/africa/21tunisia.html?ref=world