Interview with Tunisian secularist Sofiene Ben Hmida
2007-06-10
A new organisation was formed last month in Tunisia, to combat what is perceived to be an increased presence of religious rhetoric in the country’s public space. Sofiene Ben Hmida, founding member of the Association for the Defence of Secularism in Tunisia, spoke to Magharebia about the group’s creation and mission.
By Jamel Arfaoui for Magharebia in Tunis – 10/06/2007
 [Jamel Arfaoui] Ben Hmida |
Sofiene Ben Hmida, one of the founding members of the newly-announced Association for the Defence of Secularism in Tunisia, said in an interview with Magharebia that the goal of his association is to affirm that there are still people in Tunisia striving to move forward and to confront those striving to go backwards.
Magharebia: Can you tell us about your new project?
Sofiene Ben Hmida: Upon sensing the presence of an unforeseen danger to the project of modernisation in Tunisia, we decided to confront and counter it through the available democratic means. Today in Tunisia, there is much intermingling between the public and the private and between the religious and the secular, and we think it is a dangerous mix that will, over the near term, hurt Tunisian society and its development. We also believe it is imperative for rationality to be present within society and for it to express itself and not leave the domain to other expressions. Likewise, we will endeavour to break with the prevailing perception that erroneously suggests we [in Tunisian society] are moving backwards. We want to say clearly and loudly that there are still people in Tunisia who want to aspire and move forwards.
Magharebia: Why the announcement now about this association?
Ben Hmida: Why not now? We’ve been entertaining the idea for over a year, after we noticed confusion in understandings began to pervade Tunisian society, where ideas, beliefs and myths that threaten modernisation began to spread.
Magharebia: There are those who link your project to growth of the religious current in Tunisia.
Ben Hmida: We did not take action on the basis of reaction. Rather, our project is a societal and intellectual project that refuses to delve into political affairs. In any case, the rise of the religious current did not begin yesterday but rather goes back to the beginning of the 1990s, and this project’s founding group has had positions and opinions on the religious question since the sixties.
Magharebia: Do you think that the belief in the Arab region linking secularism to apostasy might hurt your project?
Ben Hmida: This confusion only exists in the minds of those who want to entrench this error and amplify it, to make people fear the idea of development and modernity, as secularism bears no relationship to apostasy. Apostasy is an ideological position towards religion, whereas secularism calls for separation between the ideological and the mundane, between public life and private life, [and] between religion and state.
Magharebia: How will you defend this idea on the ground?
Ben Hmida: We do not function as a political group but as an intellectual group, the goal of which is to raise issues and ideas in the social arena so the notion of progress and modernity stays continuously visible—that is my personal opinion. We will raise issues related to religion and we will insist on its separation from state, as it is unreasonable for the government to assume control of managing religious affairs. We will also call for implementation of the Parties Law in Tunisia in no uncertain terms, as our Parties Law unequivocally asserts establishing parties on the basis of religion is prohibited, and the state must apply this law with the rigour with which it applies financial law.
Magharebia: How did your project come into being?
Ben Hmida: It is actually an old notion some of us—men and women—took up over a year ago. After the idea ripened, we announced it on May 24th, and we are currently preparing the legal file for this association to submit to the relevant authority with the intention of obtaining a permit.
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Abdel Posted 2007-06-10
Of course the country of the great scholar Ibn Khaldoun has largely been invaded by the Zine El Abidine’s militias like this guy.
peupletunisien Posted 2007-06-11
Finally, a good initiative! This type of association can only bring hope for a true change of Tunisia’s mentality ; secularism is a fundamental principle that all societies need to adopt in order to preserve their social equilibrium. It must be remembered that, historically, Tunisia was a land for all religions and long before Islam there was Christianity and Catholicism that dominated the époque! It is thus time to reopen our hearts and to evolve our way of thinking! Liberty and Secularism!
abou fahd(london) Posted 2007-06-11
This is to (adel): you should not name tunisian president and people as invaders what did your ibn khaldoon bring to tunisia if not mistakes like you.
Sofiene de tunis Posted 2007-06-12
I am very happy to hear secularism being talked about in Tunisia. It is time to organize and put a secularist movement into work at the societal levels of Tunisia. Thus, for all the people of Tunisia who do not accept secularist principles, I would like to tell them that that are making a mistake. First and foremost, secularism, though it is veiled out of fear for a public reaction rooted in an exclusively Islamic mentality that refuses opposing ideas, represents a large part of the population in Tunisia. But to be secularist is to accept differences of everyone, including Muslim. This is why secularism can be qualified as the most valid solution to establish democracy and to establish a climate of tolerance, so as to accept the freedoms and the thoughts of everyone, even the religious extremists and the non-religious!
b.mohamed Posted 2007-06-12
This is a courageous and truly interesting project. Would you at Magharebia open a general debate on the subject??? That would also be interesting and courageous on your part. With my sincerest greetings, thank you!
فتحى Posted 2007-09-25
Firstly, I thank all those who contributed to founding this association even if I wished it were on the level of the Maghreb or the whole Arab World to gather all those who oppose the backward obscurantist thought. It’s not Tunisia that it is targeted alone, but everyone, and since the progressive or obscurest ideas affect and are affected by the neighbor, I add my voice from Libya to this association. I’m ready to provide assistance in any field where I can present help. Firstly the source of the obscurest thought should be uncovered, it is represented by the Wahabi thought, and its ideas, political and social objectives should be identified. It should be faced not only with security measures but with the thought and free debate. The difference between customs, traditions and religions should be made clear as there are many religious rules which stem from tradition while they aren’t related to religion. I assure to every person that Wahabism is the most serious danger to Arabs and Muslims. I hope from God to protect Tunisia, the states of the Maghreb and all Muslims from the backward obscurantist thought.
مولاى Posted 2008-02-02
When I read the article I said to myself that in order to eradicate the obscurant thought and stop it, there should be an initiative of setting up similar associations in the Great Arab Maghreb which is suffering of oppressive Muslims who transform oppression in the eyes of people to absolute justice without any discussion. I therefore add my voice to this good initiative.
aymen_abid Posted 2008-06-29
I beg you to go ahead with the institution of this organization to defend secularism in Tunisia. How can I become a member?
Althalil lillah Posted 2009-03-30
Secularism has become fashion. Its use is not suitable for Islamic countries. This is because Islam is not mere worship; it is a way of life. Secularism stifles and buries this method. Therefore, it shouldn’t be implemented.
Anonymous Posted 2009-04-15
This is something good and a honourable move. I invite you to move forward with your project sir. You are a great example. I hope that your project will be successful in this country.
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