Ennahdha Discourse: The Sixth Caliphate or a Misunderstanding?
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In response to the uproar caused by the remarks of Hamadi Jebali calling for a Sixth Caliphate, officials in Ennahdha, the moderate Islamist Party, have confirmed that the party is still working towards transforming Tunisia into a democratic, republican country. Meanwhile Ettakatol has decided to suspend their discussions to be a part of the governing coalition in the upcoming Tunisian Constituent Assembly.
With deep roots in the fight against anti-Muslim oppression, Hamadi Jebali emerged from years in jail under the regime of Zine Ben Ali as a man of compromise and the moderate face of Tunisia’s Ennahda Islamist party. However, on November 13, 2011 Jebali spoke at a rally in Sidi Dhaher (governorate of Sousse) together with a parliamentary deputy from the Palestinian party Hamas. Jebali referred to the present time as “a divine moment in a new state, and in hopefully a 6th Caliphate,” and that “the liberation of Tunisia will, God willing, bring about the liberation of Jerusalem.” The statement caused a stir among the Tunisian political class as well as among the general public.
As a reaction, Hamadi Jebali confirmed that Tunisia is a democratic country which obtains it’s legitimacy from the people through free and fair elections and a peaceful transfer of power. He added that Ennahdha will not change its positions and Tunisia will remain a civil state. Jebali said that the reactions and comments made on the speech about the 6th Caliphate were based on an already reduced and out of context sentence. Adding, that it is a just misunderstanding.
The center-left party, Ettakatol (Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties), has announced that they have suspended their discussions to be a part of the governing coalition in the upcoming Tunisian Constituent Assembly. Mohamed Benour, the spokesperson of Ettakatol, told Tunisia Live that “the main reason why we suspended the discusions is the statement made by Mr. Jebali, we believe that Tunisia is a free and democratic country and we refuse to abandon the principles of our party,” continuing, “We wanted to deliver a clear and simple message to all political actors and to the public… but this is not a total break we just wanted to a deliver message, as soon as we contact Ennahdha and they explain the statement we will resume discussions… because we have a lot of responsibilities ahead of us.” 
Abedeltif Lmeki, member of the executive office of Ennahdha, said that the point of this statement is to highlight the principles of the Caliphate which are justice and fairness for all. “It was a slip of the tongue by Mr. Hamadi Jebali, he should have explained it more… it is a mistake and Ennahdha will not change its principles, the issue of Caliphate is not even under discussion, Tunisia will be a democratic republic with a civil state.” Samir Ben Amor, member of the executive office of Congress for the Republic (CPR) said ” The statement was a mistake, Jebali should not have said that but at the same time we should not exaggerate things, there are more important issues to focus on at this stage.”
Nebil Skhiri, a member of the executive office of PDP (Democratic Progressive Party), told Tunisia Live that, “Ennahdha has a double discourse, and the statement was very dangerous and it will frighten both Tunisians and people in western society.” he added, “Ettakatol joining the opposition will only strengthen it, in fact, it is to the benefit of Tunisia to have a strong opposition. For Ennahdha, it is best for them to have Ettakatol, the center-left party, at their side as a way of comforting the western world.”
Ennhadha is claiming that the statement made by Hamadi Jebali, their Secretary General and designated next Prime Minister of Tunisia is a big misunderstanding, however there is a consensus that he should have controlled his remarks since he is under the spotlight.
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- Minaret of Freedom Weblog » News and Analysis (11/17/11) | 18 November 2011
Comment in TunisiaLive.net
Re. Sana Ajmi’s Ennahdha Discourse: The Sixth Caliphate or a Misunderstanding?
Nov. 16, 2011
By Monji Mouelhi – Nov. 19, 2011
There is no misunderstanding! This is consistent with what has been happening all along. Over the 10 months since the Tunisian relatively peaceful revolution, Ennahda committed a number of blunders, but none of these were as revealing as suggesting a return to Islamic rules. Prime Minister Hamadi Jebeli’s explicit plans to make of Tunisia a historic sixth caliphate is the real hope and pending intentions of Ennahda. As incredible as it may seem, should we be surprised?
Jonathan Mitchell includes an interesting picture of Mr. Jebeli in his news release of Nov. 16 in The Telegraph. The broad grins he and his aid behind him display in this picture seems to say “well, we got you guys! This is a complete and clear reversal of what Mr. Rachid Ghannouchi has been preaching for several months. How could Ennahda submit such callus and undiplomatically inclined person for prime minister?
At any rate, what is in store for Tunisian political stand, for freedom, and for women rights cannot be made any clearer. Tunisians trusted Islamists with their future, but it is obvious that they are being betrayed. It is up to them to take a stand or submit to abuse as they have done over the centuries.
Tunisians cannot rely on their secular political leaders who seem to be concerned solely about personal gains. While Ettakatol (Mr. Mustafa Ben Jaafar) seems to have taken a stand against Ennahda’s hidden agenda, it remains to be seen if it continues to abstain from coalition with Ennahda or sell out, as did the Congress for the Republic (Mr. Moncef Marzouki) that opted for the presidency position bribe instead of pulling out of the coalition with Ennahda. Is there a logical rational for Tunisian secular parties to choose fragmentation or selling out to the opposition rather than forming a strong coalition to keep Ennahda in check? I have not seen any and I cannot think of any explanation except possible greed and continuation of corrupt intentions.
Secularists cannot hide behind ignorance of what is in store behind Ennahda’s double talk. Thanks to Mr. Jebeli, their intentions are in the open for all to see and understand. It is crystal clear that coalition between Ennahda and any of the secular parties will destroy the balance of power. It will give Islamists free reign to form a caliphate, to enslave women, to marginalize religious and ethnic minorities into second-class citizens or expatriation, and it will jeopardize Tunisian hopes and aspiration for democracy, freedom, fairness, peace, and prosperity.
Shame on …! Have you changed the meaning of my comment into its opposite!
I said, Hammadi Arrabbani (i.e. the divine, he used this word 3 times in a 2 minutes-speech in Sousse few days ago) is a salafist fundamentalist (disguised in western attire: tie and 3-pieces-suite) and that during the last few months alone, Annahdha has made many declarations then it turned around and contradicted shortly after, invoking in each time a “misunderstanding”. If they cannot speak straight, they should shut up. Annahdha is the champion of the double-talk, what they tell their activists, is not the same what they tell the general public, and that is not the same what they tell the international media and organizations. This organization is thriving not only on the ignorance of the illiterate masses, but more so on the ignorance of many among the young (students,…) that were made a fertile ground for the Annahdha propaganda by an extremely poor education under a dictatorial regime where [critical] thinking, normally taught in every college in the world, was banned. Annahdha should be thankful to Zaba for having prepared the fertile terrain for them.
Shame on …! Have you changed the meaning of my comment into its opposite!
I said, Hammadi Arrabbani (i.e. the divine, he used this word 3 times in a 2 minutes-speech in Sousse few days ago) is a salafist fundamentalist (disguised in western attire: tie and 3-pieces-suite) and that during the last few months alone, Annahdha has made many declarations then it turned around and contradicted shortly after, invoking in each time a “misunderstanding”. If they cannot speak straight, they should shut up. Annahdha is the champion of the double-talk, what they tell their activists, is not the same what they tell the general public, and that is not the same what they tell the international media and organizations. This organization is thriving not only on the ignorance of the illiterate masses, but more so on the ignorance of many among the young (students,…) that were made a fertile ground for the Annahdha propaganda by an extremely poor education under a dictatorial regime where [critical] thinking, normally taught in every college in the world, was banned. Annahdha should be thankful to Zaba for having prepared the fertile terrain for them.
The caliphate is the most progressive model of government and the Muslims must embrace it. These secular are minority opinion. The people of demand the return of the Caliphate.
interesting you do not quote his words in context. They were as he indicated more pertinent to the change from corruption to fairness one of the highest moral attributes. You need to be more balanced as it is obvious who is using this and for what ends.