Fadhel Achour, general secretary of the union of religious officials gave Africanmanager an exclusive interview in which he spoke of figures contrary to those put forward by the Ministry of Religious Affairs on the number of mosques still beyond the control of the state.
He also acknowledged the existence in the Ministry of Takfiri elements embracing the thoughts of Daesh.
Interview:
What do you think of last Wednesday’s terrorist attack at the Bardo Museum?
Tunisia is now victim of extremist and Takfirist speeches in mosques inciting hatred and murder. Our young people are also victims of these speeches and they are now easily recruited into networks for Jihad in Syria or Libya.
But the ministry is talking about a very small number of mosques still beyond the control of the State.
We are still in confrontation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But the reality is that over 47 mosques are today still beyond the control of the State while 85 others are suspects and operate without legal authorization. All these mosques have been to date out of control of the state and the Ministry of Religious Affairs even ignores those who run them.
In addition, a number of security officers have been verbally or physically assaulted by extremist elements without any response from the Minister. Instead, some have facilitated the work of these extremist elements. They even helped them to flee Tunisia.
And what is the current state of the Zitouna Mosque?
The Zitouna Mosque is still beyond the control of the state while it houses many “militia of Daesh.” The mosque itself is managed today by not less than 50 extremists without any response from law enforcement personnel. However, the mosque is a few meters from the Ministry of Defense.
There is still a dispute between you and Houcine Laâbidi, why?
The abuses and errors of Houcine Laâbidi, Imam of the Mosque of Zitouna are enormous. He manages and controls several properties while they are under the supervision of the State such as the Khaldunia space.
He also grabbed 24 mosques which are under his control, considering them as subsidiaries of the Zitouna Mosque. That person has taken his actions to date with total impunity without the slightest legal action against him.
What is scaring today is to see all these people who control mosques become leaders in the Daesh terrorist organization or even become “Emirs,” especially with the silence of authorities.
Can we consider that the state has succeeded today in its mission to fight against terrorism?
The state was not able to control mosques, what then can we say of the mountains and especially mount Chaâmbi? The state has not been decisive in this regard and the Ministry of Religious Affairs was headed by persons lacking the citizen sense and cultivating ideas that are strange to us to the point that they do not believe in the state.
The Department includes, also, elements that embrace the thoughts and beliefs of Daesh. These people represent a great danger to the country.
And has this continued until today?
No, today more elements were removed but nonetheless there are still those who hold key positions in the Ministry. They are the symbol of failure, having been silent on certain issues, which is why they are called to leave the ministry.
The proposal of some politicians to remove Tunisian nationality from those who fight in Syria, is it the right decision?
This decision has been claimed by the European Union, but I think it is still insufficient.
What do you suggest?
We must supervise and reintegrate these people because they are victims of extremist Takfiri speech.
As a union, have you responded to the initiative to reintegrate youth returning from Syria?
Yes of course! We have established a committee comprised of doctors in psychology and sociology experts to guide these young people returning from Syria or Libya, but we have not found what we expected. None of these young people have accepted the idea.
And is that committee still active?
No, it is dissolved, the commission was highly contested.
What should we do then?
The state alone can assume that role. This is the only part that can exercise public authority and submit youth to this guidance even by force.
