Kais Saied explained: “Rather we will talk about a nation whose religion is Islam, and the nation is different from the state.”
That distinction will be difficult to define and maintain. Saied seems to be saying that Tunisia will not be a Sharia state, and will not implement Islamic law in its fullness. But it will still be a significant presence. Despite that, however, he is certain to be charged with apostasy and worse.
“Tunisia: Islam will not be state religion, says Saied,” Middle East Monitor, June 22, 2022:
Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Tuesday that Islam will not be the “state religion” in the new constitution, which he will present to a referendum on 25 July.
“God willing, in the upcoming constitution for Tunisia, we will not talk about a state whose religion is Islam,” Saied told reporters at Tunis-Carthage International Airport, “but rather we will talk about a nation whose religion is Islam, and the nation is different from the state.”…
In an interview with Agence France-Presse on 6 June, the coordinator of the National Consultative Commission assigned to draft a constitution of the “New Republic” in Tunisia, Sadok Belaid, said that he would submit to Saied a draft that would not include any indication that Islam is the state religion. This is meant to confront the political parties with an Islamic frame of reference such as Ennahda Movement, and has caused controversy in the country.
The First Article of Chapter One of the General Principles of the 2014 Constitution stipulates that, “Tunisia is a free, independent, and sovereign state, Islam is its religion, Arabic is its language, and the republic is its system.”…
Wellington says
Lots of luck, buddy.
Westman says
Ditto.
mortimers says
Yes, Tunisia is having another KICK at the secularist can!
They tried it already under the atheist President Bourguiba who tried to model Tunisian society after French principles of liberalism, modernity and laicity (secularism).
The traditionalists and Muslim Brotherhood didn’t want it.
Islam always wants to drag everyone back to the 7th century.
Habib Bourguiba is an example that proves if you want to modernize an Islamic country, they will go along with it if you have a dictator who can jail the Islamist opposition.
gravenimage says
Tunisia: President says new constitution will remove reference to Islam as state religion
………………………………..
Well, I hope so–but Saied saying “…we will talk about a nation whose religion is Islam, and the nation is different from the state” rather undermines this.
It also doesn’t address the roughly 1% who are Christian, Jewish, or Baha’i, or the *33%* in Tunisia who say they are not religious. I doubt much will change there.
mortimer says
The Muslim Brotherhood will agitate and upset the cart unless Saied arrests their leaders.
Michael Copeland says
“Separation of religion and state is not an option”, said Dr Jaifar S. Idris, Sudan.
In spite of what Dr. Jaifar Idris said, Sudan has, since, separated religion from the state. It remains to be seen whether this will be put into practice.
mortimer says
To MC … whatever secular program is implemented, the Muslim Brotherhood will work to overturn it. Only 35% of Muslims don’t want Sharia worldwide.
If the 65% majority are adamant, the 35% of anti-Sharia Muslims lose every time.
Black Sabbath says
Banning islam altogether in Tunisia would be a better step.
raja says
Black Sabbath,
When the most hated infidels-animals of islam don’t want to ban it how do you expect the demon-possessed to do the same?
maria says
Yes, it would be the solution, but how many Tunisians are not muslims??
Infidel says
One more country that Michael Moore praised in one of his movies “Which country to invade next?”
Ian Marshall says
Surely he said `Allah willing` (inshallah)? I don`t see `Allah` being too keen on his idea. Actually, I don`t see `Allah` anyway, so I should shut up more `n I do.
John a says
Iam not sure how much of a difference this will make in day to day activities . It will be great to see more countries get on board with this type of constitution , good start on eradicating this type of cult