[Lkemybab]

mod note: please do not include human images.


Moderate Islamist party says it has won more than 40 per cent of seats as PDP concedes it will be in opposition.
The country's independent election commission estimated that 90 per cent of registered voters turned out [Reuters]

The moderate Islamist party al-Nahda has claimed that it has won more than 40 per cent of seats in Tunisia's 217-member consitutent assembly, following the country's historic election.

"The first confirmed results show that al-Nahda has obtained first place nationally and in most districts," Abelhamid Jlassi, the party's campaign manager, said at a news conference citing its own election monitors' reports.

The party's claim that it won 90 seats came ahead of an announcement by ISIE, the country's independent election commission, of the provisional results for overseas seats.


The leaders of two leftist parties, the Congress Party for the Republic (CPR) and Ettakol, said they were fighting for second place, while the leader of the centre-left Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) conceded defeat on Monday evening.

"Al-Nahda is certainly the majority, but there are two other democratic entities, Ettakatol and the CPR, who were weak at the start but now find themselves in the position to contribute to political life and usher a rational modernity in this Arab-Muslim country," Khalil Zaouia, Ettakatol's number two, said.

Late on Monday, the Reuters news agency, citing senior al-Nahda official Ali Larayd, reported that al-Nahda was considering forming a coalition with both Ettakol and the CPR.

Overseas seats followed the trends established for domestic districts, with nine of the 18 seats reserved for overseas Tunisians going to al-Nahda, four to Ettakatol, three to the CPR, and one each to the Democratic Modernist Coalition (PDM) and Aridha Chaabia, according to an announcement by the country's election commission.

Samir Dilou, a member of al-Nahda's political bureau, said that his party had won "not far from 40 per cent" of the vote.

"The trend is clear. The PDP is badly placed. It is the decision of the Tunisian people. I bow before their choice," PDP leader Maya Jribi told the AFP news agency at her party's headquarters in Tunis earlier in the day.

"We will be there to defend a modern, prosperous and moderate Tunisia," she said, adding the PDP would "clearly be in opposition".

'Compromise'

Jlassi, speaking from al-Nahda's headquarters in the Tunis suburb of Montplaisir, said that his party's priority was to restore stability to Tunisia.

"We would like to reassure our trade and economic partners, and all actors and investors, we hope very soon to have stability and the right conditions for investment in Tunisia," he said.

"The priorities for Tunisia are clear. They are stability, conditions for a dignified life and the building of democratic institutions in Tunisia. We are open to anyone who shares these objectives. We are open to all forces without
exception," he said.

Some estimates go so far as to give al-Nahda more than 50 per cent of the vote.

Al-Nahda has not competed in an election since 1989, when ex-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali allowed individual candidates from the party to participate before allegedly tampering with the results.

Tunisia’s independent electoral body was created early in the year after Ben Ali was forced from power by a popular uprising.

In the space of a few months, it has written new electoral rules and created electoral lists from scratch, receiving high praise on Monday from a delegation sent by the National Democratic Institute, a US-based organisation that helped monitor Sunday’s vote.

"This election to me was hands down, the best, the most promising I’ve ever seen, including in the United States," Jane Harman, president of the Woodrow Wilson International Center and former US congresswoman from California, said at a press conference in Tunis.

Delivering conclusive results could prove to be the biggest challenge for the ISIE, faced with pressure to promptly announce the results from many Tunisians, while others demand investigations into allegations of election irregularities.

Outside the media centre run by the electoral authorities, a group of around 30 protesters called on the electoral commission to take action for what they said were alleged violations of the electoral code by al-Nahda and other parties.

Some carried signs saying "30 TND [$21] = one vote".

Adnan Ben Hamachia, who had been head of an independent list "The Big Project" in the election said those who had lost should concede defeat and the electoral authority should deliver the results promptly.

"All the media around the world are reporting that al-Nahda won between 50 and 55 per cent," he told Al Jazeera. "Yet the ISIE is refusing to give any results. Something is happening."

He said that he was willing to accept the provisional results suggesting he had lost, and that others should do the same.

"I don't support al-Nahda, but I understand that many people, especially in poor areas, voted for them."

The newly-elected assembly will rewrite the constitution and also choose a new interim government and set dates for parliamentary and presidential elections.

Boubaker Bethabet, the ISIE secretary-general, said 90 per cent of the estimated 4.1 million citizens who registered ahead of the poll cast their votes.

More than 11,000 candidates ran in the election, representing 80 political parties. Several thousand candidates ran as independents.

The electoral system was designed to include as many parties as possible in drafting the new constitution, which is expected to take a year.

-- With reporting from Yasmine Ryan

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

[Anydayhybeall]

salam alikum,
yes, this is from al-jazeera, but what is your opinion about it?
w salam

[Lkemybab]

salam alikum,
yes, this is from al-jazeera, but what is your opinion about it?
w salam

It's a good thing.

[Anydayhybeall]

It's a good thing.

now all is clear

w salam

[alecoplesosse]

From a BBC report:

Ennahda, which was banned under the former regime, says it has modelled itself on the governing AK party in Turkey, another Muslim-majority country which has remained a secular state. Here the BBC reporter is trying to convince himself that everything is alright in that part of the Muslim world. He is trying to reassure himself and others of the same disposition that there is no Islamic thread in Tunisia.
Islam as a way of life is an oddity and the threat of this coming a way of life is not there.

In short the negative perspective of Islam is the dominant perspective. At least in Europe. One wonders what one can do to change that.

The reporter further says:
Ennahda has sought to reassure secularists and investors, nervous about the prospect of Islamists holding power in one of the Arab world's most liberal countries, by saying it would not ban alcohol, stop tourists wearing bikinis on the beaches or impose Islamic banking. This reminds this sinner the following incident from childhood. An umbrella repairman used to visit the locality. One customer asked whether the repaired umbrella will be sturdy enough. The workman said yes it will last a long time if you save it from the rain and the sun. It must have been said in just-the part this sinner missed completely at that time and only the logical absurdity remains ingrained in the mind till today.
Hopes of our western brothers have the same flavour. Muslim rule for Tunisia but not Islamic rule.

[Anydayhybeall]

From a BBC report:



Here the BBC reporter is trying to convince himself that everything is alright in that part of the Muslim world. He is trying to reassure himself and others of the same disposition that there is no Islamic thread in Tunisia.
Islam as a way of life is an oddity and the threat of this coming a way of life is not there.

In short the negative perspective of Islam is the dominant perspective. At least in Europe. One wonders what one can do to change that.

The reporter further says:

This reminds this sinner the following incident from childhood. An umbrella repairman used to visit the locality. One customer asked whether the repaired umbrella will be sturdy enough. The workman said yes it will last a long time if you save it from the rain and the sun. It must have been said in just-the part this sinner missed completely at that time and only the logical absurdity remains ingrained in the mind till today.
Hopes of our western brothers have the same flavour. Muslim rule for Tunisia but not Islamic rule.

salam aliku,
what always astonished me how west is pushing muslims to hypocricy - to avoid mentioning sharia... they do not understand...

[alecoplesosse]

salam aliku,
what always astonished me how west is pushing muslims to hypocricy - to avoid mentioning sharia... they do not understand...

Exactly.

[Nautilus]

The party has said that it won't ban bikinis or alcohol.

I think it's a wise decision to focus on the precise and the local. This party will be regarded as suspicious by outsiders and what it needs to do is gain even more support by revitalizing the economy, getting jobs and creating social welfare programs. Once a base has been established, they can focus on social conservative issues.

[Anydayhybeall]

The party has said that it won't ban bikinis or alcohol.

I think it's a wise decision to focus on the precise and the local. This party will be regarded as suspicious by outsiders and what it needs to do is gain even more support by revitalizing the economy, getting jobs and creating social welfare programs. Once a base has been established, they can focus on social conservative issues.

salam alikum,
yes I agree wiht above

Muslims have lot of to repair there, they will manage, inshaallah

[farmarrl]

Nahda is a very watered down version of Ikhwan. Turk AKP is their inspiration. We can only expect freedom to practice Islam for those who chose to. And not application of shariah. that's it.

[alecoplesosse]

AHD for the info. I was not aware of this. Some how the perspective on Tunisia is not very crystal clear here at SF. Whatever is served by the western sources has to be taken with spoonful of salt.

[beenBinybelia]

Nahda is a very watered down version of Ikhwan. Turk AKP is their inspiration. We can only expect freedom to practice Islam for those who chose to. And not application of shariah. that's it.

that's a good first step.

[alecoplesosse]

that's a good first step.

It is a pleasure that brother maneatinglizard is available for us hoi polloi too. I suppose out of four weeks you should be available to us for week and for the rest three you can battle sects number 71 and 72.
Wassalam

[alecoplesosse]

Because of these considerations implementation of Shariah should be incremental. Easiest things fist.

[Tveabuti]

I recall reading this thread some time ago and having serious issues with its approval of implementing kufr and only incrementally implementing Islam.

This is NOT The methodology of the Prophet (saaw). And the methodology espoused here is gradualism which is NOT that of the Prophet (saaw). And without following the Prophet (saaw) in this matter, who's course are you taking?

First:

discontinue espousing gradualism.

There a false assumption that the Prophet (saaw) gradually implemented Islam. Rather, he (saaw) immediately implemented wahy upon receiving it. He did not withhold wahy or ahkam until some time it was strategic. Gradualism, or tadaruj, was the providence of Allah (SWT) regarding when He (SWT) chose to reveal.

And those who disbelieve say: Why is the Qur'an not revealed unto him all at once? (It is revealed) thus that We may strengthen thy heart therewith; and We have arranged it in right order. (Translation: 25:32)

Second:

Uphold the integrity and forthrightness of the Message of Islam. This means that we speak clearly and specifically about Islam and present it for what it is. This is the Way of the Prophet (saaw) and all the Anbiyaa (as).

[ceagsoosy]

brother Usama2 if today in UAE I told everybody that they have to grow beards, NO TV, No Music, No pubs, No clubs, No porn, I will whip everybody who does not come to pray, kick out all the teachers who preach kufr what do you think will happen?

[ceagsoosy]

And on top of that I would choose a black person from the quraish who has a pakistani passport as their ruler what do you think will happen?

[Anydayhybeall]

salam alikum,
I think it is very useful and refreshing what brother Usama2 says, even nothing is simple today, we must know that this is best way.
We use nowadays lot of patience, but when possible we have this support in our Propher PBUH and make things as quicly as possible.

If someone is here from Tunisia I would like to know opinion about post of president, which is given to Mr Marzouki who is atheist. In old regime the president has had a big power, which I assume parliament will change - or may be is changed already. How will muslims (Enahda and others) deal with his position?

w alikum assalam

[Tveabuti]

brother Usama2 if today in UAE I told everybody that they have to grow beards, NO TV, No Music, No pubs, No clubs, No porn, I will whip everybody who does not come to pray, kick out all the teachers who preach kufr what do you think will happen?

You raised some good points. But there is a difference between establishing the Deen (which establishes the halal & haram) and prosecution of the haram. If the matter is kept to Tunisia for a moment, if I'm not mistaken, zina- premarital and extramarital sex including prostitution- is legal. Can an Islamic party stand by a law which renders the haram as halal, legalizing zina`?

No one can rightly doubt that caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib (rah) stood for the Deen, but he postponed prosecution of haram- the murderers of caliph Uthman (rah). In no way did he legalize murder.

Postponement and including in that good advice, warning, guidance, encouragement- enlightened leadership and governance- is part of wise governance. But this is fundamentally different from upholding kufr and haram as halal.


As for the UAE, or any Muslim country, Islamic leadership is mandatory. Enlightened Islamic leadership being critical. When I visited Fujairah recently, I saw many youth with nothing to do but troll the streets and 'hang out'. That is a matter of leadership. Are they being led to something bigger than themselves, something of greater meaning? Or are these youth's potential being wasted for material and earthly profit?

If as a leader and ruler, your only concern is beard length and what people do with free time, you have already lost the support and backing of the Muslim people. Why are you not guiding and leading the people to greater things: like Jannah?

An enlightened ruler and leader sees the bigger issues, such as j#i*h*a^d fisabillah. If a people are truly guided in the Islamic way, it may be that the very same youth who are at the sheesha bars or clubs or in the desert drinking may actually see the evil and worthlessness of their conduct and wake up.

[alecoplesosse]

I advocated gradualism.
There are various reasons.
A few decades ago Islam oriented people won election in Algeria.
Then the tanks rolled into street. Military in action. No Islam, no democracy (not an Islamic pet any way).
There have been powers in the recent times, as long as I can remember, who know what to control and how in any country where there is a possibility of Islamic rule.
Military is the most commonly controlled institution by the powers who are interested in keeping Islam and Muslims under their thumb.
Think of the military in Pakistan.
Think of the military in Turkey.
Others can tell more.
If Turkey has managed to do little bit then it is because of gradualism.
Another example is of Lal Masjid. Of course there is the extra complication here that it was not their mandate in which they indulged.
Finally the case of liquor was in the back of my mind. It was not abolished completely in a single go. And it was Allah(SWT)'s injunction to do it that way.
Graduality is ingrained in Islam. In the Meccan period there on ART (Tauheed, Risaalat, Aakhirat) and that is all. After that is perfected then there are Shariah injunctions in Madinah.
By that time the unbelievers have committed enough atrocities that they are left with no moral grounds to defend themselves.

I hope it helps to clarify the matters a little bit.