Election has been successfully held in Tunisia and is promised in Libya. The Islamist party ( referred to as "moderate") has garnered the highest votes and must govern with others, maybe a coalition. Ennahda hs won support both inside the country and with expatriates voting abroad, but is expected to fall short of a majotity. So far it has not taken a position on sharia and claims that it respects democracy and human rights and wants to work with secular parties to draft a new constitution. Its leader Rachid Ghannouchi has advocated moderate Islamist policies like those of the AKF ruling party of Turkey.
The old constitution declared Islam as official religion, but does not mention sharia as the foundationof the legal system. The country has strong secularists traditionsand would face strong opposition if sharia is declared as the bsais of law. With the exception of Saudi Arabia, which has only Islamic law, other countries in the region has often followed a mix of religious and civil law. It varies from place to place, for example, muslim rebels in Nothern Nigeria has demanded strong sharia, while women in Yemen are burning their veils. It is said that Ghannouchi's writings helped influence the AKF and its moderation in Turkey.
The Muslim Brotherhood is expected to win the largest number of seats (25%) in Egypt's election in December. Its constitution describes Islam as the state reliogion and calls for it to be the main source of law. It tried to build a "Democratic Alliance" with rival Islamists and liberal groups, but that failed due to lack of trust and fears that the Brotherhood was merely putting up a moderate front to win wider support. The Salafists, who want a strict implementation of Islamic laws are expected to win about 10% of the seats and could join with the Brotherhood to form the next government. The secular parties, as well as the Copts will have to be on guard to prevent any move towards strict Islamism. Again, like Tunisia there is a long tradition of secularism, which would offer strong opposition to such a move (under Mubarak, the Brothrerhood was banned).
Gadhafi ruled by decrees that mentions Islam as state religion, but fought the Islamists, especially in Benghazi. The Muslim Brotherhood hs about 1,000 members because recruitment was outlawed.(Thousands were killrd and imprisoned by Gadhafi's security forces) . Now that he is gone, the Islamists who were amongst the most determined and organised rebels, are coming to the fore and make it clear that sharia will be the basis of law. NTC chairman Jalil, announced on Sunday 24th, that as he had stated before, " sharia is the main source for legislation". What extent. will be settled by the new constitution, to be written by the assembly and approved bt a referendum.
The mood in these countries would indicate that the people who for the most part are Muslims, want moderation in government. They see Turkey as the model to emulate. They have had enough of dictatorships. They want to breathe. They want flexibility in government. They are willing to try democracy but are wary of the license, lewdness and the general decay of decorum and decency. They may not be prudish but they are definitely against licentiousness.
The old constitution declared Islam as official religion, but does not mention sharia as the foundationof the legal system. The country has strong secularists traditionsand would face strong opposition if sharia is declared as the bsais of law. With the exception of Saudi Arabia, which has only Islamic law, other countries in the region has often followed a mix of religious and civil law. It varies from place to place, for example, muslim rebels in Nothern Nigeria has demanded strong sharia, while women in Yemen are burning their veils. It is said that Ghannouchi's writings helped influence the AKF and its moderation in Turkey.
The Muslim Brotherhood is expected to win the largest number of seats (25%) in Egypt's election in December. Its constitution describes Islam as the state reliogion and calls for it to be the main source of law. It tried to build a "Democratic Alliance" with rival Islamists and liberal groups, but that failed due to lack of trust and fears that the Brotherhood was merely putting up a moderate front to win wider support. The Salafists, who want a strict implementation of Islamic laws are expected to win about 10% of the seats and could join with the Brotherhood to form the next government. The secular parties, as well as the Copts will have to be on guard to prevent any move towards strict Islamism. Again, like Tunisia there is a long tradition of secularism, which would offer strong opposition to such a move (under Mubarak, the Brothrerhood was banned).
Gadhafi ruled by decrees that mentions Islam as state religion, but fought the Islamists, especially in Benghazi. The Muslim Brotherhood hs about 1,000 members because recruitment was outlawed.(Thousands were killrd and imprisoned by Gadhafi's security forces) . Now that he is gone, the Islamists who were amongst the most determined and organised rebels, are coming to the fore and make it clear that sharia will be the basis of law. NTC chairman Jalil, announced on Sunday 24th, that as he had stated before, " sharia is the main source for legislation". What extent. will be settled by the new constitution, to be written by the assembly and approved bt a referendum.
The mood in these countries would indicate that the people who for the most part are Muslims, want moderation in government. They see Turkey as the model to emulate. They have had enough of dictatorships. They want to breathe. They want flexibility in government. They are willing to try democracy but are wary of the license, lewdness and the general decay of decorum and decency. They may not be prudish but they are definitely against licentiousness.
