Dissension Emerges Among Islamists In Egypt, Tunisia
The divisions among Islamic parties have hampered stability and governance in Egypt and Tunisia, writes Nassif Hitti.
Political dissension among the Islamists in the "Arab spring countries" did not take long to emerge once in power. They are reflected in the increasingly difficult and tense relations, the constant exchange of accusations and criticism between them. Such is clear between the Muslim Brotherhood on one hand, represented by the Egyptian freedom and justice party or the Tunisian Ennahda — despite some differences revolving around national contexts and experience — and the Salafist constituency on the other hand. Various observations can be made about these dissensions.
First, it is important to underline four general trends among Salafists. One could be considered as apolitical, focusing on the rituals, on withdrawal and minimal involvement in the public sphere, except for practical and necessary matters of daily life. Such groups tend to refuse to get involved in the mode of life of what they consider to be “a not Islamic enough society,” even if it is a Muslim society. The second trend is an anti-politics one, as politics is conceived in the "city." It is in a perpetual conflict and violent confrontation with non-Islamic societies in which it exists because the given societies do not live according to their own values. Such a trend is personified by the Salafist jihadists: they would bestow on themselves the duty and obligation to change by imposition through struggle and violence. The third trend is the interesting and new one. It is the politicized Salafist trend, which found an opportunity to grow amidst the changes brought by the revolution and the opening of the political space in the society. This is done without changing necessarily its view of the current society but changing the means to change the society, or save it, via political action. It is the trend that discovered the importance of involvement in the city life, though it often could be violent in its language and sometimes action. Engaging in political actions means forming parties and getting actively involved in different walks of the political life. The Muslim Brotherhood’s reaction to the Salafists is to try to get them on their side for electoral purposes.
