TUNIS: Simon Slama and his family are the only Jews left in the Tunisian town of Monastir, as soon as house to a thriving Jewish community. But as an alternative of joining the exodus, he is operating for workplace as a candidate of Tunisia's Islamist party.
Slama's candidacy with the Ennahdha party in May municipal elections is causing a sensation on this overwhelmingly Muslim nation, and some controversy.
Critics see it as a calculated tactic by means of Ennahdha to regain energy and to restore its popularity amongst Western allies just like the United States. Others then again see it as an example of Tunisia's long-standing traditions of tolerance.
A stitching system salesman and repairman, 56-year-old Slama says he just wants to serve his nation and the town where he was born, suffering from financial difficulties and social tensions.
"I chose Ennahdha because I found that because of the crisis the country is going through, everyone is turning toward this party," he instructed The Associated Press in his workshop.
"I see no difference between the Islamic and Judaic religions. We are all one family and we are all Tunisian citizens and we should go hand in hand to build the Tunisia of tomorrow," he said.
Slama returned to Monastir, on the Mediterranean coast about 170 kilometers (105 miles) south of the capital, Tunis, after studying in the French town of Strasbourg at the same time as other Jewish households left because "we love the city and it has the spirit of my ancestors."
Tunisia is house to an estimated 1,500 Jews nationwide. Monastir "used to have 520 Jewish families. Today mine is the only one left," Slama said.
He wants to enter public carrier because he sees cities and cities "as essential in the evolution of society."
Tunisia is holding its first municipal elections since the 2011 revolution that overthrew a long-time autocrat and unleashed uprisings across the Arab international. Tunisia is the only nation to emerge with a brand new and moderately built democracy, though the going has been tough.
Ennahdha, banned underneath the old regime, was victorious in the first post-revolution elections but had to abandon energy in 2013 amid a political crisis after the assassination of 2 opposition politicians and a upward push in Islamic fundamentalism.
The party management wants it to come back out on best in the municipal vote, considered a springboard for legislative and presidential elections subsequent 12 months.
It's the only party with applicants in all 350 municipalities, and also drew consideration for putting a lady at the head of its party listing in the capital, positioning Souad Abderrahim to turn out to be the town's first feminine mayor if it wins.
The party's Monastir chief, Adel Messaoud, insisted that they authorized Slama's candidacy as it "conforms with the positions of Ennahdha, which is a civilian party that opted during its last congress to separate its political action from ideological action."
While acknowledging that the candidacy could appear "a bit bizarre," he insisted that the controversy around it is unfounded.
"I know him well, he's a neighbor who is appreciated by his compatriots for his human qualities and good reputation," he instructed the AP, noting that Tunisia had a Jewish federal govt minister after winning independence from France and other Jews have served as native officers.
"We are really an open party. It is not about trying to please anyone. We took into account the country's general interest, which is going through a unique democratic experience in the Arab world, which we want to succeed with the participation of all Tunisians regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation," he said.
Borhene Bsais, head of political beliefs for the ruling Nida Tounes party, doesn't buy that argument. He known as the candidacy "a propaganda operation by Ennahdha to seem like an open and tolerant party."
While Nida Tounes and Ennahdha are recently in a central authority coalition together, they are the main competitors in the municipal vote, which can decide the political contours of the country for years to come.
"We fear the exploitation for electoral reasons of non-Muslim citizens, who we consider as equal ... and not second class citizens," Bsais said.
He said the candidacy is Ennahdha's effort to distinguish itself from the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist movements to keep alliances with the United States.
One of Slama's Muslim shoppers, Moez Dali, praised his community spirit.
"Everyone knows Slama," he said. His family "loves everyone here. And they come to our weddings and we go to their weddings. There is no difference between us. He is in the end a Tunisian from the city of Monastir."
Slama's candidacy with the Ennahdha party in May municipal elections is causing a sensation on this overwhelmingly Muslim nation, and some controversy.
Critics see it as a calculated tactic by means of Ennahdha to regain energy and to restore its popularity amongst Western allies just like the United States. Others then again see it as an example of Tunisia's long-standing traditions of tolerance.
A stitching system salesman and repairman, 56-year-old Slama says he just wants to serve his nation and the town where he was born, suffering from financial difficulties and social tensions.
"I chose Ennahdha because I found that because of the crisis the country is going through, everyone is turning toward this party," he instructed The Associated Press in his workshop.
"I see no difference between the Islamic and Judaic religions. We are all one family and we are all Tunisian citizens and we should go hand in hand to build the Tunisia of tomorrow," he said.
Slama returned to Monastir, on the Mediterranean coast about 170 kilometers (105 miles) south of the capital, Tunis, after studying in the French town of Strasbourg at the same time as other Jewish households left because "we love the city and it has the spirit of my ancestors."
Tunisia is house to an estimated 1,500 Jews nationwide. Monastir "used to have 520 Jewish families. Today mine is the only one left," Slama said.
He wants to enter public carrier because he sees cities and cities "as essential in the evolution of society."
Tunisia is holding its first municipal elections since the 2011 revolution that overthrew a long-time autocrat and unleashed uprisings across the Arab international. Tunisia is the only nation to emerge with a brand new and moderately built democracy, though the going has been tough.
Ennahdha, banned underneath the old regime, was victorious in the first post-revolution elections but had to abandon energy in 2013 amid a political crisis after the assassination of 2 opposition politicians and a upward push in Islamic fundamentalism.
The party management wants it to come back out on best in the municipal vote, considered a springboard for legislative and presidential elections subsequent 12 months.
It's the only party with applicants in all 350 municipalities, and also drew consideration for putting a lady at the head of its party listing in the capital, positioning Souad Abderrahim to turn out to be the town's first feminine mayor if it wins.
The party's Monastir chief, Adel Messaoud, insisted that they authorized Slama's candidacy as it "conforms with the positions of Ennahdha, which is a civilian party that opted during its last congress to separate its political action from ideological action."
While acknowledging that the candidacy could appear "a bit bizarre," he insisted that the controversy around it is unfounded.
"I know him well, he's a neighbor who is appreciated by his compatriots for his human qualities and good reputation," he instructed the AP, noting that Tunisia had a Jewish federal govt minister after winning independence from France and other Jews have served as native officers.
"We are really an open party. It is not about trying to please anyone. We took into account the country's general interest, which is going through a unique democratic experience in the Arab world, which we want to succeed with the participation of all Tunisians regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation," he said.
Borhene Bsais, head of political beliefs for the ruling Nida Tounes party, doesn't buy that argument. He known as the candidacy "a propaganda operation by Ennahdha to seem like an open and tolerant party."
While Nida Tounes and Ennahdha are recently in a central authority coalition together, they are the main competitors in the municipal vote, which can decide the political contours of the country for years to come.
"We fear the exploitation for electoral reasons of non-Muslim citizens, who we consider as equal ... and not second class citizens," Bsais said.
He said the candidacy is Ennahdha's effort to distinguish itself from the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist movements to keep alliances with the United States.
One of Slama's Muslim shoppers, Moez Dali, praised his community spirit.
"Everyone knows Slama," he said. His family "loves everyone here. And they come to our weddings and we go to their weddings. There is no difference between us. He is in the end a Tunisian from the city of Monastir."
Jewish candidate for Muslim party breaks barriers in Tunisia
![Jewish candidate for Muslim party breaks barriers in Tunisia]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 23, 2018
Rating:
