Ennahda’s Final Campaign Rally

Yesterday, Friday 21st October, Ennahda Party organised its final rally of the campaign period in Ben Arous Stadium. Party leaders emphasized the party’s Muslim identity and repeatedly tied Islam and democracy together, expressing their commitment to both. They focused their rhetoric on national unity and national consent. An estimated 30.000 supporters claimed, ‘ Tunisians are Muslim and they will not give up.”

Sahbi Attig, a member of the executive office from Ennahda, said that this is now the right time for Tunisians to express their rights, breaking with corruption and dictatorship. He also insisted that Ennahda is sincere in its principles and that it is ready for activism and democracy. He reminded the crowd of October18th, 1987, when Ennahda fought for a democratic state with other left and right parties, and he underlined Ennahda’s commitment to fulfilling the goals of the revolution.

M. Attig claimed, “Islam is the basis of our identity.” He also condemned the diffusion of the movie “Persepolis,” which recently caused protests because of its depiction of God and insisted that Tunisians should recognize and be proud of the Arab Muslim Identity.

Souad  Abdarrahim,  the head of the party’s list in Tunis 2, claimed that Ennahda will celebrate its success on October 23rd. She also said ”Ennahdha is not only a political party; it is the renaissance of Tunisia… It is a party that has been always faithful to its principals.”

According to M. Abdrrahim, Ennahdha is committed to promoting the role of women in the Tunisian  society: “Women are an index of modernity. We will not oblige them to stay home and will not oblige them to wear specific clothes.” She also insisted that Tunisians should not have a phobia from Ennhadha.

According to Abou Yaarb Marzouki, head of the party’s list in Tunis 1, Ennahda is one of parties to have the most direct contact to Tunisians. He criticized the previous regime that damaged  Tunisian ethics and morals, and he insisted that Ennahda will improve education in human history and in Islam.

Party leader Rached  Ghannouchi concluded the meeting. He insisted that Tunisia belongs to muslims and seculars. He also underlined that Ennahda will strengthen the belief of Tunisians in God and that it is the most activist and organized party. Moreover, he claimed, “Ennhadha has a pluralist regime that respects every citizen, since God is fair.”

Ghannouchi called for all to vote Ennahda on October 23rd, to never separate religion and democracy, the rights of employees, youth and  woman. But he also underlined that there have always been some people who were from Ennahda in Tunisia and Ennahda has been always in their minds, so they should not miss the opportunity  to vote for it.