Moderate Islamist Party Claims Victory in Tunisia

[alp227]

Source: NY Times

A moderate Islamic party appeared to emerge as the big winner in Tunisia on Monday as preliminary results leaked out in the voting for an assembly to draft a constitution and shape a new government in this small North African country, where a revolution in January inspired uprisings across the Arab world.

The party, Ennahda, won at least 30 percent of the votes cast on Sunday, and party officials told a news conference the party had come out ahead in nearly every voting district. Ali Laredi, a top official of the party, said it expected to receive possibly more than 50 percent when the final results are tallied.

Calling his party “the most modernist” Islamic political movement in the Arab world — meaning the most committed to principles of democracy and pluralism — Mr. Laredi predicted that it would now “lead the way” for others around the region.

Ennahda officials were already beginning discussions to form a unity government with the four or five other more liberal parties that were expected to get representation in the constituent assembly, which is to draft the constitution.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/world/africa/ennahda-moderate-islamic-party-makes-strong-showing-in-tunisia-vote.html?pagewanted=all

[slackmaster]

1. Unrec for oxymoron in the title

It's impossible for something to be religionist and moderate at the same time.

[iandhr]

3. I know several people of faith

who are modern and very liberal.

[slackmaster]

6. Do they believe that their religion, whatever that may be, should be the foundation for government?

Do tell.

[SkyDaddy7]

8. Let's be honest...

A Christian or Muslim that claim to be moderates or Liberals are not really Christians or Muslims according to their Holy Text. It takes serious mental gymnastics to get around the Bronze Age & Iron Age Nuttery within their respective Holy Text so they can still label themselves as Christian or Muslim & feel comfy in doing so. That, or like most folks they have no clue what is actually in their Holy Text & anyone who points out the disgusting & non-moderate or Liberal parts of these Holy Text will be accused of taking things out of context.

[iandhr]

9. no

there faith is separate.

[slackmaster]

10. Then they don't fit my definition of religionist

Thanks.

[Chef Eric]

5. Agreed. "Islamist" or "Islamic"? The article uses the two interchangeably. nt

[No Elephants]

11. Why would you unrec a thread for wording the thread parent has no control over?

[slackmaster]

12. Why do you assume that my Unrec is meant as criticism of the OP rather than of the author?

I Unrecced it because I think it's poorly written, which I believe I explained clearly in reply #1.

Is there a list of official rules that define proper uses of Rec and Unrec somewhere, which I have overlooked?

[Odin2005]

18. Turkey's party in power right now is a "moderate Islamist" party.

They have been actually *GASP* working to make Turkey more democratic by neutering the political power of the military.

[madrchsod]

2. that`s a bit of good news but....

look for the extremists to undermine his government.

[pampango]

4. With 90% voter turnout, let's hope Tunisians stay involved in the political process.

If they do, things will work out well.

[Fool Count]

7. If referring to islamists, "moderate" is a synonym with "crypto-".

When they are all done with elections in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, the West may finally find out that all those countries had
an actual reason for not being "democracies".

[No Elephants]

13. Nonethless, they are THEIR countries. As long as they don't attack anyone else, it's not

anyone else's business how their elections go.


Be as religious (or as religionist) as you want, as long as you are not also evil. Yes, I know that doesn't happen often, but we have yet to figure it the problem is religion, or power, or greed, or human nature that has yet to evolve sufficiently, or some combination of factors.

[slackmaster]

14. Religionism, as implemented in many Muslim countries, is inherently evil

Its tenets include institutionalized misogyny and homophobia.

[Fool Count]

15. I would go even further and say - it's not anyone else's business

whether they even have any elections or not. If some of them suddenly decide to have one,
let them make an effort and themselves take care of those who prevents them from doing it.
If they don't want to have an election and prefer some king or emir or eccentric dictator
to rule them with an iron fist - it's all good, I'm fine with that too. What would be so
wrong with that approach?

[slackmaster]

16. So you're OK both with them having no elections, in which nobody votes, or elections...

...in which only men vote.

[Fool Count]

17. I, most certainly, am OK with whatever they think works for them.

I am not an election fetishist like some people here. Elections are like assholes -
everybody has one. Soviet Union had elections. USA still do. Much good does it do
for the 99%?

[Odin2005]

19. The folks in power in Turkey right now are "moderate Islamists"

People need to chill out and quit falling for RW fearmongering about Islamists.

[slackmaster]

20. The Turkish constitution is not based on Sharia law

Unlike what the new PTB in Libya have explicitly said they intend to create. I regard the folks in Tunisia with great skepticism for now.

[Alamuti Lotus]

21. the Tunisian Communist Workers Party MADE the revolution, but the exiled right-wing chumps benefit

the US-owned wahhabi dictators in Saudi Arabia & Qatar have made a huge investment in the ongoing counter-revolution in the mideast, as evidenced in the reactionary usurpers in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt gaining authority. Besides the counter-revolutionary club of kings itself, known as the GCC, nobody is happier about these development than Wall St bankers and the State Department and other 'western' imperialist institutions.

[Tx4obama]

22. A win for gender equality

Tunisia Elections 2011: Ennahda Islamist Party Official Winner

SNIP

Ennahda officials have promised a broad-based coalition, and vowed to wary Tunisians that democratic principles as well as gender equality will be respected in line with Muslim Tunisia's strong secular tradition.

SNIP

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/tunisia-elections-2011-ennahda_n_1062709.html