Page 162 - The Winter of Islam and the Spring to Come

THE WINTER OF ISLAM AND THE SPRING TO COME
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The great torment promised in the verse is what awaits all those tyrants
who attempt to destroy Islam in their own lands unless they repent and
change their ways. Muslims must be aware of this, consider the condition of
their oppressors in the hereafter in the face of the persecution they are sub-
jected to, and know that they will be the eventual victors.
The Status After BourguibaAfter Bourguiba had lost credibility in
Tunisia, France tried to increase its influence over the country by having
Tunisian Ambassador to Paris Hadi Mebruk appointed foreign minister. At
the same time, Prime Minister Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali granted a number of
freedoms to Muslims, who had suffered years of political oppression under
the Bourguiba regime, in order to attract their support. The Bin Ali regime,
which had removed Bourguiba from power through a civilian coup, re-
leased a number of political detainees. Those in exile were allowed to return.
Sadly however, the new regime, which Muslims had such high hopes for,
proved to be not much different from the Bourguiba administration. Bin Ali
began by promising that he would initiate a process of reform in the coun-
try, but after fully consolidating his rule he began implementing the same
oppressive policies against the Muslim population as Bourgiba.
The only thing that changed in Tunisia after Bourguiba was the repres-
sive policies' reappearance on the agenda which Muslims had suffered
under for so long. Bin Ali was no better than his predecessor, and his latest
actions have made even Bourguiba pale in comparison. Tunisia today still
has an extremely anti-democratic structure in the whole region, as a result of
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Bin Ali’s oppressive ruling. Muslims, who represent a wide spectrum of
society, are waiting to take over the running of the country by democratic
means, without harming other Islamic countries or their own people.

THEY ARE TRYING TO SILENCE THE
ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN TUNISIA
The Islamic movement in Tunisia is represented by the Islamic Tendency
Movement (NAHDA), which was set up by Professor Rashid al-
Ghannouchi and Abdul Fattah Moro. When it was seen that the move-
ment was beginning to gain strength, there began moves to put it
down, and over 100 people were detained, including much of its leader-
ship. The movement was rendered fragmented in a single night. The
leaders were finally brought to court after months of detention, and
were sentenced either to death, or to prison terms ranging from 20 years
to life. Ghannouchi, who lives in exile in London, was sentenced to life.
The death sentences were carried out post haste. In addition to the lead-
ers, thousands of other people were also detained on less serious
grounds.