Arab world will see democracy soon, says Rashid Ghannouchi of Tunisia
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Arab world will see democracy soon, says Sheikh Rashid Ghannouchi
Jose Kalathil
New Delhi, 9 April:
"Democracy will prevail in Arab world soon. It is a matter of time," predicted Sheikh Rashid Ghannouchi, president of the Ennhada Party, the second largest party in Tunisia. Quoting Koran, he said, nobody can cling to power for long. There will be change.
Winning 28% votes in the 2014 election, Ennhada, the first Islamist party to accept secularism, is a partner in the coalition government headed by the Nidaa Tunis Party. He played an important role in its formation.
He was here on a three-day visit as the guest of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. His hectic schedule included talks at Jawahar Lal Nehru University and at the Observer Research Foundation on 'The Tunisian Transition to Democracy'.
He said Tunisian constitution was drafted in consultation with govt, opposition and civil society, and is acceptable to 95% of citizens. Consensus is necessary to preserve peace. He regretted that the virus of terrorism has not disappeared yet from Tunisia, the latest being the attack on the museum. His party believes in resolving crisis through dialogue.
He said that the world's youngest democracy is keen on learning from the greatest democracy. He praised Modi for raising the Tunisian success story at the UN. He requested friends like India to help the country financially. He also sought international help in countering terrorism from the region. He said democracy moved from Europe, to Asia to Africa and now to the Arab world. Arabs feel more confident now.
"We are not against Islam. Confusion on Islam and terrorism will only encourage terrorists. Tunisia guarantees justice and freedom to all citizens; also women's emancipation," he said.
Arab Spring started with the Tunisian civil society demanding freedom. The term, coined by the western media, soon became a source of inspiration for the region. He said if Tunisia can succeed in establishing democracy through peaceful means, the whole Arab world can. Tunisia proved that Islam and democracy can co-exist.
Civil society's role in establishing democracy in Tunisia was different from what happened in Egypt. He said Egypt and Syria are victims of their locations so it is not easy to liberate. There is international interest. Morsi committed many errors in Egypt. He should have gone for another election, but not clinging to power by crook.
He urged the international community to stand by Syrian people. He also asked Muslim scholars to continue the role of civilians to eradicate terrorism.
Regarding Tunisians going to Syria, he said what motivates them are drugs and religious extremism. He also said that in Syria, minority dominates the majority.