With Ben Ali’s departure, what next for Tunisia?
Today, the four week old situation in Tunisia escalated and latest reports say that President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has now left the country following huge demonstrations on the streets demanding his resignation. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has just been on TV and announced that he will now run the government. There are reports that five people have been killed in the last few hours.
Demonstrations started in mid December 2010 over corruption, inflation and unemployment and nearly a hundred people have been killed by security forces since then.
The government of Ben Ali, which initially responded with defiance, was stunned by the scale of public disquiet. Ben Ali, an absolute dictator, has left no opposition within the country.
The United States and France, two principle allies who stood by Ben Ali through all his repression, his banning of hijab and his attacks against other manifestations of Islam, have largely remained silent. Indeed some statements from France were supportive of Ben Ali.
The western media, which usually reports popular uprisings – such as in Iran and Burma – with great relish, has been strangely subdued in comparison. They do not seem certain if it is good or bad thing if a repressive secular ally of the west falls!
The implications of Ben Ali’s departure are significant across the Arab world. As one commentator wrote recently in the Washington Post, the US’s greatest threat in the Middle East is not war, it is revolution. Public anger over corruption, unemployment, and dictatorship exist in Egypt, Algeria and most countries in the region.
It must be remembered that what we have seen so far is a near repeat of how Ben Ali came to power 23 years ago in 1987. Then, president Habib Bourgiba, a similarly unpopular president who had ruled for over 30 years was forced out, and replaced by one of his inner circle – Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Similarly today, Prime Minister Ghannouchi, from Ben Ali’s inner circle, replaces Ben Ali.
People cannot be satisfied that a close associate of Ben Ali takes over and continues the economic and other policies of Ben Ali with some tinkering but no real change.
In addition to a change of face, the Muslim world needs a change from the current dictatorship’s democracies, and other systems to the Islamic Khilafah system. The real alternative to the status quo, across the entire Muslim world is the Islamic Khilafah system – which would address the people’s needs; be accountable; independent of the west and would restore stability and prosperity to the region.
“And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not” [TMQ Yusuf 12:21]
Related Story: Tunisia: Muslims ‘dying’ to find work
It must be 2014 already – as Tunisian president Ben Ali said he would stand down in 2014.
He fled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where, incidentally, Idi Amin Dada, the butcher of Uganda also fled – his rule was also characterised by political repression, extra-judicial killings, nepotism, corruption and gross economic mismanagement.
Does it surprise Muslims when US and France, two principle allies who stood by Ben Ali through all his repression, banning of hijab and attacks against other manifestations of Islam, refused to give asylum to Ben Ali signifying that he had outlived his usefulness? This should serve as an eye-opener for all despotic rulers in the Muslim lands; as the West does not have perpetual friends – only perpetual interests. But, Pakistan’s Asif Ali Zardari appears so mesmerized by his Paymaster as to be lamenting the loss of Richard Holbrooke over his grave; whilst the US leaders exhibit total disregard for Muslim life in wiping out entire families with Predator Drones.
This is brilliant news. The ummah needs to see more of this happening in order to see that it can do something and not hold the defeatist mentality many of us hold. Though this event may not lead to the khilafah it shows that people are sick and tired of the current situation and are now beginning to rise up, if this is combined with the correct islamic culture then it will be dynamite and will inshallah lead to the removal of all the tyrants in order to be replaced with the khilafah.
May be US and France are busy in escape arrangements supporting next one from inner circle clinging on to the benefits they care. Mubarak is grooming his son for handover of the reign of Egypt.Gadaffi grooming his heir in line trained by the masters ready for grab when things go wrong. Zardari reported to have professed after him his sister or Balawal will do the honour of pillaging of Pakistan with awaiting USA/Britain claiming their rights over the governance and economy already.
Only Islamic Khilafah system would address the people’s needs; be accountable; independent of the west and would restore stability and prosperity to the region.
“If you adopt obediance to Allah and His Messenger, He will not diminish anything from the reward of your works. Surely, Allah is all Forgiving, all Merciful. In fact, the true believers believe in Allah and His Messenger, then entertained no doubt and exerted their utmost in the way of Allah with their selves and their wealth.”
I hope the Muslims in Egypt dont make the same mistake that the Tunisians did dont let the remaining parts of the U.S puppet government stay in place, and dont fall back on ur backward racist culture,nationalism,secularism, and the democracy ideology or you will fall back to the same hole you folks are in poverty,illiteracy and oppression go back to Islam when the Muslims were practicing there religion we were in the Islamic Golden Age we were the greatest super power on earth we had advances in technology, medicine, education, best economy and helped bring about the Renaissance in the dark ages of medieval Europe go back to the suna and sharia and Mohamed thats the only way for us Muslims take out the puppet governments of the west and russia (like Iran)