Tunisia’s Grand Mufti Othmane Battikh, appointed by President Beji Caid Essebsi last summer, caused a political row, in late September, when he considered some labour sit-ins and protests as haram or religiously illicit because they harm the country’s fragile economy. Battikh was quick to clarify that his statement was an opinion and not a religious verdict or fatwa, but that did little to calm the controversy and debate his statement unleashed regarding the role of religion in a civil state, as Tunisia’s constitution upholds. Battikh, who was formerly minister of foreign affairs in Habib Sid’s government; and was appointed Grand Mufti from 2008-2013 by Zin el Abidin Ben Ali, put the PM Youssef Chad in an awkward position as to the nature of the relationship between the two institutions. Besides, apart from the reaction of the UGTT labour union that expressed its astonishment at the Mufti’s statement, secularist political parties and figures observed deafening silence and did not express any clear position in favour or against Battikh’s fatwa. Thus, it was social media activists who forced the issue onto the national political agenda, despite its careful avoidance by political parties and figures. Under the Ennahda-led Troika government Ennahda criticised the leftist Popular Front for triggering chaotic strikes and sit-ins which harmed the economy. It was therefore understandable for Ennahda not to oppose Battikh’s statement this time despite their strong differences. Besides, the Islamist party is in the coalition government and had to stand in solidarity by it. Likewise, Battikh’s entry in politics has, according to some observers, disarmed the Popular Front in that on the one hand it is seen by many as somehow supportive of the strikes, but on the other hand, as a secular political force, it has always criticised the Islamists and called for a strict separation of religion and politics.
Links for more information:
http://www.huffpostmaghreb.com/2016/09/27/tunisie-mufti
http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2016/09/27/97001
http://arabi21.com/story/950594
