2011-01-21 Ben Ali has used Europe's prejudices

Today, The German news outlet Frankfurter Rundschau reported on some comments made by Jebali Hamadi. Hamadi was the leader of the Islamic party Al-Nahdha just prior to the fall of the Ben Ali government of Tunisia. In the brief interview, Jebali Hamadi is reported to have said:

Aber eine Beteiligung an dieser Regierung lehnen wir ab. Wir wollen eine Regierung, an der sich alle beteiligen, ohne Ausnahme.

(Participation in this government, we reject. We want to be involved in a government in which all political parties are equally represented, without exception.)

Jebali Hamadi continued in the interview to state:

Wir sind gegen Einschränkungen. Aber schauen Sie auf die Straße! Das Volk hat sich gegen die Politik der RCD ausgesprochen. Wer in die Repression verwickelt ist, kann nicht an der Regierung beteiligt werden

(We are opposed to any restrictions. But look at the streets! The people have spoken out against the policies of the RCD. Those who have been involved in the repression can not be involved in the new government.)

The quotes, taken apparently only days before the fall of the Ben Ali and RCD's government, conclude with these observations by Jebali Hamadi:

Was den Islam betrifft, herrscht in Europa eine Psychose. Ich habe neun Jahre in Paris gelebt. Ich kenne die Mentalität in Europa. Ich habe versucht, Europäer zu verstehen, mich in die Lage eines Europäers zu versetzen. Es wäre gut, wenn die Europäer versuchen würden, den Islam zu verstehen. Bevor man jemanden verurteilt, soll man mit ihm sprechen und ihm zuhören. Ben Ali hat die Vorurteile der Europäer genutzt, um seine Herrschaft zu stabilisieren.

A sort of prejudice, psychosis prevails in Europe regarding Islam. I lived in Paris for nine years. I know the mentality in Europe. I have tried to understand Europeans; to put myself in the position of a European. It would be good if Europeans would try to understand Islam. Before condemning someone they should speak with them and listen to them. Ben Ali has taken advantage of these prejudices; of the Europeans lack of understanding in order to stabilize and maintain his rule.

The original German article can be found here.

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