Religion in Tunisia

The religion in Tunisia is characterized by the prevalence of the Islam. The Judaism and the Christianisme are very minority there but the Tunisia is characterized by its tolerance and its opening to the other cultures which made the identity of the country.

The film a summer in Goulette testifies to the pluricommunautaire spirit which prevails before the Guerre the Six Day old.

Religion and State

The Tunisian constitution envisages the free exercise of the religions as long as they do not carry not reached to the law and order. The government generally respects this right but it does not allow the establishment of political parties based on the religion, prohibited the Prosélytisme and limit the port of the Hijab (in particular in the public schools). Thus, anxious to seem the defender of the Tunisian identity and the precepts of Islam threatened by the French colonization, it decides, in the Années 1930, in favor it hijab before prohibiting it the shortly after independence while slipping into the clothes of the mojtahed (interprets authorized Koranic law). Ambivalence remains after the accession with the capacity of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali which adopts series of measure symbolic systems intended to rehabilitate the place of Islam in the company: call to the prayer with the television and the radio Tunisian, rehabilitation of the University Zitouna marginalized by Bourguiba, installation of an Islamic High council intended to work an official Islam and creation of a presidential price of recitation of the Coran. Besides frequently punctuating his speeches of Sourate S of Coran, Ben Ali says the apostle of a “moderate and enlightened Islam” dialoguing with the other great religions.

The teaching of the Islamic religion is obligatory in the public schools but the programme of religious studies in the secondary also includes the history of the Judaism and Christianity. According to Souhayr Belhassen, journalist and vice-president of the Tunisian League of the human rights, it would be about a “phenomenon of mode” which would be based on the international context: The War in Iraq and the Palestinian situation cause an identity revolt against the Occident oppressor which appears in the port of the veil. Its Foreign Minister Abdelwahab Abdallah adds the October 13rd which it is about a “political slogan posted by a bunch which is dissimulated behind the religion to carry out political intentions. ” In 2003, its structure denounces already that “a little everywhere in the street, to the school, in the public corporations, emerge from the young women and less young people who carry the Islamic behavior. Following this incident, the October 25th 2006, the Tunisian government announces the closing of sound Ambassade with the Qatar.

Christianity

Judaism

The Judaism is the third religion of the country with roughly 1500 members. Seen like heretics by the government, they can practice their faith only in private circle. Their General meeting is held in Tunis.

Bahaïs are organized in Tunisia in 18 small groups:

There exist also 6 isolated centers:

Witnesses of Jéhovah

In 2007, the country counts approximately 50 Témoins of Jéhovah of which the half are Tunisians of stock

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