DOHA: Rashid Al Ghannouchi, Chief of the Islamist Ennahda party in Tunisia and a member of the ruling coalition, defended the government’s decision to impose a state of emergency in the country following recent terrorist attacks but hoped the reasons that led to the tough measure would end soon.
Al Ghannouchi recently visited Qatar Orphan Foundation (Dhreima). In an interview with Al Sharq, he praised Dhreima’s efforts and expressed interest to have a partnership agreement with the foundation to support orphans in Tunisia.
Asked about the one-month state of emergency declared by President Beji Caid Essebsi following terrorists attacks in the coastal city of Sousse that killed and wounded dozens of foreign tourists, Al Ghannouchi said, “Ennahda issued a statement saying it understands the necessity for a temporary emergency to deal with the exceptional situation facing the country, at the security and social fronts.
“We hope the reasons for the state of emergency and related procedures would end soon.
“The government must take full responsibility to investigate the incident, fill the security gap and bring the criminals to the court,” he added.
Al Ghannouchi also defended the government’s decision to close down several mosques and suspend some associations following the attack.
“Tunisian people will not allow the oppressive regime to come back.
“These procedures are to fight the epidemic of terrorism. There are a few mosques in Tunisia that don’t comply with the law. They are being closed down temporarily to make them adjust their status according to the law, he said.
Al Ghannouchi said fighting terrorism needs short-, medium- and long-term plans. It is also necessary to address its root causes at the economic, social, intellectual, educational and religious fronts.
“But to do this, we need national unity and a national strategy,” he added.
Explaining Ennahda’s decision to join the coalition led by the secularist Nida Tunis party, Al Ghannouchi said, “We are supporting the current government because we believe in the principal of power-sharing and reconciliation.
“We are in a democratic transition. In a stable democratic system, a 51 percent majority is enough to rule but in a transitional situation this is not enough to achieve stability. You will need representation of an electorate ranging between 70 and 80 percent.” the peninsula
He said Ennahda that formed the first democratically-elected government in Tunisia after the 2011 revolution had decided to quit in the larger interests of the country.
“We didn’t try to stick to power but we left although ours was an elected government. “Some saw this as a strange democratic logic but we did it to save the country and its stability,” said Ghannouchi.
“Earlier people were thinking that Islamists don’t believe in democracy and use it to come to power and once they get it they won’t give up. “Our experience shows the opposite. We lost power but we gained a democratic Tunisia,” he added.
The Peninsula
