User talk:APPLE24

Salafism in tunisia salafism in tunisia How do you spot a Tunisian Salafist? Does any man with a large beard, a traditional robe, and a skullcap fit the description? Can any woman wearing a niqab safely be assumed to be Salafist? The Tunisian government and many Tunisian and international media outlets will routinely use the term ‘Salafist’ to refer to any group or individual accused of committing violent acts out of religious motivation. The man who sells you fruit in the market has a thick beard and wears ‘Salafist’ clothing. But he always greets you with a smile and speaks to you in perfect French. He looks the part, but certainly does not seem a threat. Salafism is a new phenomenon in Tunisia, and there is confusion about what the term really means. Salaf, the root of the word, means “ancestor” in Arabic, and in this sense the concept refers to following practices of the earliest Muslims. At its core, it resembles the ideology of traditionalist religious groups like the Amish in the United States. Salafism seeks a way of life considered purer and holier than the prevailing social norms. Button-down shirts and pants are replaced by a long robe, and shoes are often replaced by sandals. Before the January 2011 revolution, such outward expressions of religion were suppressed, with women wearing headscarves or men with thick beards subject to intimidation or arrest by the police. Since the fall of president Zine el-Abidine ben Ali, a new atmosphere of religious freedom has emerged, and these once-forbidden symbols are now commonplace in Tunisia. A Salafist character on the al-Wataniya drama Yawmiyet Imraa, 2013. A Salafist character on the al-Wataniya drama Yawmiyet Imraa, 2013. Along with these new expressions of faith came widespread use of the word ‘Salafist,’ which has been both a term of scorn and an expression of pride. A stereotype of a Salafist has become part of Tunisian popular culture, with several dramatic television series this Ramadan featuring Salafist characters, complete with large beards and stories about their religious conversions or plans to fight jihad in Syria. The Tunisian and international press may use the word ‘Salafist’ to describe actors who direct violence, extremism, and hostility against the state. The Tunisian government has also accused ‘Salafists’ of involvement in a number of high-profile crimes, including the assassinations of opposition politicians Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi and the killing of eight Tunisian soldiers on Chaambi mountain. A day after Brahmi’s murder, the Ministry of Interior accused Aboubaker el-Hakim, whom it described as a “Salafist extremist,” of the crime. Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia has also been deemed a Salafist group. Its founder, Abu Iyadh, is accused of al-Qaeda ties and involvement in the September 2012 attack on the United States embassy in Tunis. The government said that some members of the group were involved in the Belaid and Brahmi murders. More on 'Salafism:' Salafists: Tunisia’s Newest TV Stars Conservative Preacher Alleges Assault by Supporters of Popular Front Ansar al-Sharia Spokesman Released; Status of Friday Protest Uncertain The organization denies these charges, rejecting allegations of violence and promoting its charitable operations throughout Tunisia. These activities are publicly documented on Facebook despite the fact that the group was officially banned in May. Members of organizations that self-identify as Salafist reject the movement’s compatibility with violence. They accuse criminals of hiding behind the name of Salafism and accuse the government of distorting its meaning for their own ends. The Reform Front, a political party with a strong religious foundation, is one of these groups. Rafik Elouni, a party spokesperson, wants Tunisians to keep an open mind about Salafism “before listening to rumors.” For him, a Salafist is by definition incapable of committing acts of terrorism. Ansar al-Sharia leaders at a press conference, May 16, 2013. Ansar al-Sharia leaders at a press conference, May 16, 2013. “The media are never neutral. A lot of newspapers report terrorist acts and link that to Salafism, like the Chaambi attacks that were linked to Salafists and religious extremists,” he said. “This is all incorrect. A Salafi in fact fears God and will not involve himself in such acts.” Elouni focused on the positive role he believes Salafists play in Tunisian communities. “The media discredits Salafists and demonizes them, unlike what we see in reality, with committed young people who are Salafists engaging in charity.” “We have certain political actors who misuse the word ‘Salafist’ and its definition to suit their aims. The Salafi is the person who sticks to the Quran and the Sunnah [guide to life based on the prophet Mohamed's teachings], who follows the Prophet, his Sahaba [followers], and the great religious men throughout history,” Elouni said. He was critical of the way the Tunisian government and other actors portrayed the movement. “There are some attitudes on behalf of the government that are unjust and unfair to Salafism,” he said. “Today we have multiple conceptions of Salafism, be they in Tunisia or abroad. Some are negative, others are positive, but Islam unites us all. Divisions will only make us weak.” Some Tunisians see the emergence of ‘Salafism’ as stemming from a new freedom to worship and publicly express their faith. Aymen, a 42 year-old professor, noted that after the revolution, people are now able to reveal themselves as Salafists. “People are not afraid to declare that they are Salafist and that they are not just believers by inheritance, but in fact they practice the religion too,” Aymen said. “What is special about their lives is that they try to be faithful to the teachings more than other Tunisians. The term ‘Salafism’ is badly used by the media, be it in Tunisia or abroad. They try to portray Islam in a negative way.” By the same author Tunisia Battles Cameroon for World Cup Berth Man Sets Himself on Fire in Ariana Court Annuls Election Board Nominees Aymen even used the term to describe Ennahdha, which is often described as a moderate Islamist party. “The government is in fact Salafist, they are Islamists,” Aymen said, showing how broad the concept of ‘Salafist’ can be. Adel Elmi, head of a conservative religious civil society group called the Moderate Association for Awareness and Reform, is also often referred to as a Salafist. He said, however, that the term has been manipulated by those who commit violent acts as well as by those who condemn Salafism. “The word Salafism has been turned into a monster,” Elmi said. “ There are people who try to hide behind the name while others demonize it.” Elmi acknowledged, violence perpetrated by self-identified Salafists, but asserted that this does truly define the movement. “We have Salafists who participated in this negative image by being too violent and too ignorant about their own religion. This benefits nobody, neither secular people nor Islamists,” Elmi said. “Some Salafists made isolated mistakes, but not all Salafism suffers from this.” For him, Salafism is something to be celebrated, a pure approach to Islam and an essential part of Tunisian society. “Today we treat a Salafist as if he were an alien, when Salafism has been part of our identity for a long time,” he said, adding, “Salafism is the best thing God ever created, the teachings of Islam and the prophet.” ‘Salafist’ has been used to describe peaceful groups undertaking acts of charity, violent actors fighting against the Tunisian state, and even the ruling party itself. While frequently criticized by government officials and referenced in dramatic newspaper headlines, there seems little agreement about who these Salafists really are. - See more at: http://www.tunisia-live.net/2013/08/23/what-is-a-salafist-in-tunisia-the-answer-is-far-from-clear/#sthash.5rJjfOie.dpuf

Salafism in tunisia
This is an automated message from MadmanBot. I have performed a web search with the contents of Salafism in tunisia, and it appears to include material copied directly from http://www.tunisia-live.net/2014/08/23/what-is-a-salafist-in-tunisia-the-answer-is-far-from-clear/.

It is possible that the bot is confused and found similarity where none actually exists. If that is the case, you can remove the tag from the article. The article will be reviewed to determine if there are any copyright issues.

If substantial content is duplicated and it is not public domain or available under a compatible license, it will be deleted. For legal reasons, we cannot accept copyrighted text or images borrowed from other web sites or printed material. You may use such publications as a source of information, but not as a source of sentences. See our copyright policy for further details. (If you own the copyright to the previously published content and wish to donate it, see Donating copyrighted materials for the procedure.) MadmanBot (talk) 10:15, 17 November 2013 (UTC)