Maghreb blog review

14/12/2005

Maghreb bloggers take charge of their fate.

[File] Iranian women take charge of their fate by starting a rock band called Orkideh

This week was very sad week for Zizou from Djerba. He wrote from Beirut about events that followed the release of the Mehlis Report. He said, "This weekend was not supposed to be any different from the preceding one. Though we all knew that the second version of the Mehlis Report was going to be published, we did not have any particular expectations. This morning after a nice start, the phone suddenly rings. There was an explosion in the industrial park, nothing bad apparently. A few minutes later we are talking about a car bomb. Jobrane Tuaine was assassinated!"

Gebrane Tuéni, head of Beirut's leading newspaper An Nahar, campaigned against Syria's hostile influence as a reporter. He was fearless in stating his points of view, but never rejected those of others. Tuéni is now part of history, the history of the long march of a country towards freedom and real democracy. Just another martyr, sighed Zizou from Djerba.

Trying to comfort Zizou, who seemed disconsolate by such a loss, Chantal replied, "free speech will resound; they can not assassinate the whole society. Lebanese around the world are mourning, but we are continuing our march and we will win!"

"At least they [the Lebanese] have started their march towards freedom and democracy, while we [Tunisians] "l'Azouza tghenni wel wed hezha" (are singing while swept away by the river), Anis complained.

Despite the fact that all agreed that Tunisia has still a long way to go before being the democracy Anis aspires for, Zizou reminded him that "at least [they're] not crying like the Egyptians are. At least we are not subjected to totalitarian religious control. I will also say that I am happy being a Tunisian, I am ready to defend this Tunisia where the religion is moderate".

"Yes, but we are either a democratic country or we are not, you can't be in between. Democracy as well as individual liberties are non-negotiable," replied Houssein.

"Are you blaming me for preaching for a liberal Islam, for being afraid of the radical Islam? I defend secularism in Islam; is that wrong?" asked Zizou from Djerba.

"Do you realize what can happen if the Muslim Brotherhood intensifies its strength? We will have another Iranian revolution and no one can stop them. Even the United States is now negotiating with it as nothing else worked," added Zizou from Djerba.

Trying to bring the argument to a close, K-pax tried explaining how the democracy that brought the Islamic Brotherhood into power in Egypt will eventually strip them of their actual popularity since "radical Islamic groups usually lose their credibility once they're in power".

"The Islamic Brotherhood will eventually realize that it has to change its speech or step down. They won't be able to hand off religion as an answer for unemployment," stressed TriKhaled.

But why try to let others find answers for you while you can "take charge of your faith". That was the answer given by Muslim women to this dilemma. Who other than Muslim women can talk more authoritatively about the oppression of radicalism? But look at them now, noted Foulla.

"Alhamdulilah" (Thank God). Life is changing for the better. Some among us forget that we do not live in ancient times... I suppose the key here is moderation," rejoiced EM.

Pleased and overwhelmed by the assertiveness with which Muslim women have taken charge of their destiny, Mchicha cheered, "Go girls!"