Page 161 - The Winter of Islam and the Spring to Come

HARUN YAHYA (ADNAN OKTAR)
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Bourguiba's first act was to set up a legal and education system
similar to those in France. The main feature of that system was that it
was shaped by hatred of Islam. He placed mosques under close watch
and forbade the performance of prayers outside certain times. He had
all Muslims who opposed the regime in favor of an Islamic society ar-
rested and severely tortured. He had all Islamic education institutions
closed down beginning with Zaytuna University, the symbol of
Tunisia. Zaytuna was an important center, on a par with Al-Azhar
University in Cairo, which kept Islamic life alive in North Africa and
raised religious figures who enlightened the people. Bourguiba's pres-
sure went so far that during the holy month of Ramadan he appeared
on television with a drink in his hand and forbade people to fast, on the
pretext that it "slowed down the country's development and pace of
work." He said he wanted pilgrims to go to Kairwan, the holy city of the
Maghrib, instead of Mecca, because going to the latter was very expen-
sive.
The Tunisian administration at all times followed a policy in stark
contrast and opposition to other Islamic countries. Tunisia suspended
relations with Sudan, stood by the French government against Algeria,
and forbade Tunisians to pray for martyred Palestinians or even discuss
the Intifada.
As the years go by, the oppression has decreased slightly and a
process of democratization has emerged. The experiences of Muslims in
Tunisia and Algeria recall a cruel method employed by the deniers as
revealed in the Qur'an. One of these is the destruction of holy sites to
prevent people from living their religion. Allah declares the position of
those who wish to prevent His name from being recalled, both in this
world and in the hereafter:
Who could do greater wrong than someone who bars access to the
mosques of Allah, preventing His name from being remembered in
them, and goes about destroying them? Such people will never be
able to enter them except in fear. They will have disgrace in the life
of this world and in the hereafter they will have a terrible punish-
ment. (Surat al-Baqara: 114)