Reality is always more finely-shaded than appearance. At the end of last week I wrote about the mood of the Arab Spring countries regarding relations between Muslims and the West (see EUROPE 10698) and I highlighted their positive aspect, noting that the southern shore of the Mediterranean is largely oriented towards an open and liberal conception of Islam. This orientation is for the most part confirmed. But the uncertainties and complications that remain or emerge should not be neglected. Two countries provide information on this, each in their own way - Libya and Tunisia.
Libya: progress and puzzlement. The authorities have clear ideas, but the situation remains complex and in part uncertain. Two elements are positive - the head of state's attitude and Benghazi's demonstration on 21 September. Mohamed Youssef el-Magarief, who is also head of the national assembly, ordered the dissolution of autonomous militias and confirmed friendship with the United States after the assassination of the American ambassador. “The people who have committed this act will be judged and severely punished - I commit myself to this before public opinion. (…) Islam has nothing to do with these people who hijack it. It is just a minority, but a very dangerous one. One of my priorities is to get rid of them. (…) Extremists are rejected not only by the majority of Libyans but by the whole Arab world.” The demonstration in Benghazi confirmed these statements. For the first time, a massive demonstration by the people in Benghazi demanded the return to civil normality and the disarmament of irregular militias. These autonomous and sectarian militias occupy barracks, headquarters, even hospitals, and are sometimes linked to extremist movements. In 18 months, the civil authorities - in spite of the police and an embryonic official army - have not been able to correct the anomalies. Now, a large part of the population has invaded the streets, demanding the return to normality. It is encouraging, but the lion's share of the work still remains to be done.
It should not be forgotten that the unitary character of Libya is not to be taken for granted. The president does not dispute that at the current time the country is composed of numerous tribes, sometimes having diverging interests, but he has confidence in the future: “The tribal factor is impossible to eliminate all at once. The tribes need to be converted to the democratic process through teaching. Changing mentalities is a long-term business. But with time, the fact of being a Libyan citizen will come to bear on the sense of belonging to a tribe.”
The scale of the problems behind the Libyan president's balanced and encouraging attitude is evident. He did not evade other delicate subjects either - like relations with Africa, which Gaddafi used to encourage and exploit. President el-Magarief is looking for friendship and cooperation, but even so he has said: “Many al-Qaeda militants come from Niger, Chad and Mali. I intend to send the army to control our borders. I will personally be involved in this file.” As for rejecting extremists, he made explicit reference to the “Arab world, leaving Asia aside”. His answer to a question on Egypt was: “I would prefer to speak about Tunisia, which is closer to my ideas than the Muslim Brotherhood.”
What is in the bag for Tunisia. Progress in freedom is evident in Tunisia. The press and the word have never been as free. A newspaper belonging to the State (La Presse) publishes satirical cartoons of the authorities on a daily basis. Women openly rebel against the restrictions imposed upon them. The founder of the government party (but which does not participate in the government) has stated that Islam must not be imposed because religion is a freedom. But the extremists, the Salafists, forcibly prevent what they disapprove of, they attack the television, they intensify their violence - and if they are sometimes arrested, they are quickly released. Freedom is still a daily battle, especially for women.
Much will depend on the new Constitution, which is currently being worked upon (with difficulties). Some freedoms are still under discussion and are not yet in the bag. The formula for women as men's associates seems like an attempt to reject equality.
Reevaluation of Arab civilisation. Other developments and clarifications in relations between Islam and Europe (leaving aside the United States because the situations are different) deserve to be taken into consideration. They are not all negative - far from it - because Europe is progressing in its understanding and reevaluation of the true Arab civilisation down the centuries. A similar effort needs to come from the other side. The way is still hard, but it is the only response to fanaticism. Movements in the right direction are aplenty. This column will return to this. (FR/transl.fl)