Tunisia: Changing the World

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." ~Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

Many people would admit that before this year they had never even heard of Tunisia, let alone know where to find it on a map. But now our eyes have been rivited on this country in Northern Africa as we watch the events unfolding there. This one small country was the catalyst to a chain reaction in the Middle East as waves of protesters in multiple countries have turned on their governments and overthrown their leaders. War is still being waged even as we pause to focus in on this one nation. Where will all this change take us? We don't know, but our eyes are open and our hands are lifted in prayer as we ask God to direct the future of these nations and those who will be in power. It is at times like these that we often find ourselves wondering about the power of change, and we marvel at how one event can be the turning point for such a dramatic shift in our world as we know it. People have dreamed of changing the world. Songs have been written about it. Poems have inspired us to it. Speeches have challenged us to do it. But the truth is that most of us will never have a global impact on our world. And while we dream of changing the world, we to often miss the areas in our own lives that need to be changed and surrendered to Christ. One man's death may have sparked a revolution that is changing the world, but another man's death has granted us the opportunity to be brought from death to life (Rom 6:13). If change will begin anywhere, let it start with us.
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Tunisia

Basic Info:Tunisia is a country slightly larger than Georgia located in Northern Africa. It is between Algeria and Libya, with a strategic location along the central border of the Mediterranean Sea. Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration. Of the of 10,589,025 population, 98% are Arabs, 1% is European, and the last 1% is Jewish and other. Arabic is the official language and Arabic and French are both used in commerce. The media is mostly controlled by the government, and the people have a 1 year conscript service obligation to the military.

Government: Italy and France both wanted control of Tunisia, but France invaded Tunisia in 1881 and established themselves as protector. Due to the people calling for independence for decades, France finally recognized Tunisia as an independent republic state in 1956. The first president, Habib Bourguiba, set up a strictly controlled one party state. He controlled the country for 31 years and while he was in power he repressed Islamic fundamentalism and established rights for women that were seen no where else in the Arab world. He also emphasized spending on education. A bloodless coup occured in 1987, replacing Bourguiba with Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. Normally, the president is elected by poular vote for a 5 year term that has no limits, and the Prime Minister is appointed by the President. Ali served five consecutive terms as president while trying to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society. Under him the political system became more autocratic and repressive. There was no real political opposition, and his re-elections were boycotted, causing hundreds of dissidents to be arrested. In January of 2011, a wave of street protests (the Jasmine Revolution) shook the country and sparked a revolution in the region. Ali was ousted after trying unsuccessfully to placate demonstrators. The Prime Minister invited the opposition to be part of the interim government until elections can be held mid-year, but he resigned after complaints that he was to closely tied to Ali. The government is still dealing with almost daily protests from a variety of groups, the police force has suffered mass desertions and the firing of top officials, and provincial governments are still dysfunctional. The judicialk system is still tied up from its links to the old regime.

Economy:Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive social policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia relative to the region. Real growth, which averaged almost 5% over the past decade, declined to 4.6% in 2008 and to 3-4% in 2009-10 because of economic contraction and slowing of import demand in Europe - Tunisia's largest export market. However, development of non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production, and strong growth in the services sector somewhat mitigated the economic effect of slowing exports. Tunisia will need to reach even higher growth levels to create sufficient employment opportunities for an already large number of unemployed as well as the growing population of university graduates. The challenges ahead include: privatizing industry, liberalizing the investment code to increase foreign investment, improving government efficiency, reducing the trade deficit, and reducing socioeconomic disparities in the impoverished south and west. The spark for the Jasmine Revolution was the demonstration of a college educated street vendor who burned himself to death in protest of his lack of opportunities for bettering himself among Tunisia's widespread poverty. Violent demonstrations follwed, and many protesters were unemployeed college graduates who demanded more jobs and denounced the ruling family's indulgent lifestyle, particulary the President's second wife.

Religion: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
The official religion of Tunisia is Islam. Wanting to avoid the problems facing neighbouring Algeria, Ali has outlawed militant Islamic groups and, by law, political parties cannot be religiously based. However, the government controls mosques and pays the salaries of the imams and the Constitution stipulates the country's determination to adhere to the teachings of Islam. The President is also required to be a Muslim. While most other religions are free to practice, the vast majority of Christians are foreign workers and the government officially recognizes only the Roman Catholic Church due to a 1964 concordat with the Vatican. According to church leaders, the practicing Christian population is approximately 1,000 and includes an estimated 200 native-born ethnic Arab citizens who have converted to Christianity. Historically, many who confess Christ end up returning to Islam because of the oppressive environment. The Tunisian government does not permit evangelism or the distribution of Christian literature.

Info compiled from CIA World Fact Book "Tunisia", VOMC "Tunisia", and New York Times February 28, 2011 "Tunisia"

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Islam and Democracy
(One Islamic Leaders Views Explained)

Anjem Choudry, a British citizen who was born and raised in the United Kingdom, was a spokesman for an Islamic group known as Islam4UK, which is now banned. He has appeared on CNN, BBC, and other major mainstream media. Most Westerners would consider him to be an extremist, but according to Choudary, he is simply adhering to the teachings of the Quran and Hadith. The excerpts below are taken from an interview between International Christian Concern’s President Jeff King and Mr. Choudary (Interview with a Jihadist Part II, III).

ICC: Many people say Islam is a religion of peace, but in reality the Quran is full of references to violent acts. What is your take on this?

Choudary: Well, the word Islam is not derived from salam (peace), as people say. Rather it means submission. So the Muslim is the one who submits. Islam is submission, the Muslim is the submitter, We submit to the sharia and the Sharia is encapsulated with many, many duties and responsibilities, one of which is jihad. So nobody can say that Islam is a religion of peace.

ICC: History has shown that Islam was expansionist by design-Muhammad was sent to bring the whole world under submission to God. So the attacks don’t have to be defensive, they can be offensive. Is that correct?

Choudary: It is correct that there are two types of jihad. There’s something called jihad mubada’ah, which is offensive jihad. And this particular one is carried out by the Islamic state as a foreign policy to remove obstacles in the way of implementing the Sharia outside of its boundaries. So suddenly there would never be a year which fgoes by without an expedition to conquer other lands and to put them under Sharia. And we believe that the Sharia is a mercy for mankind. We believe the divine law (Sharia) will take people out of their shackles and their personal man-made law into the duties and justice of Islam. In an ironic way, that’s really what the British and the Americans were doing in Iraq. They said, ‘Look, these people are being oppressed. Let’s go over there forcibly and remove the regime and implement democracy.’ On the other hand, muslims obviously don’t believe in that kind of oppressive regime, and we don’t believe in democracy and freedom. But when we say, ‘Look, under an Islamic state, we will have a foreign policy to do justice and remove oppression,’ people will suddenly ask how they are expected to accept that. Well, the Americans, and even the British, have been doing that for the last 100 years.”

ICC: You called for the destruction of democracy and the concept of human rights. Why?

Choudary: “I think democracy and human rights are man-made and therefore fallible and oppressive. Allah said in the Quran, ‘Those who rule and judge by other than what Allah has unveiled, they are the disbelievers. They are the oppressors. They are the people who are sinful.’ So I believe it is oppression. Democracy is oppression. I don’t believe that the majority of the people should decide what is good for mankind. I don’t think they can decide. We have to have criteria, and I believe that there’s man-made law and divine law-sovereignty of man or sovereignty of God. I believe sovereignty belongs to God. I do believe in the superiority of Islam, and I do believe in the injustice and the oppression of man-made law as manifested in freedom, democracy, human rights, and so on. But, it’s not because we don’t have an alternative. We have a better alternative. The prophet said, ‘Islam is superior and will never be surpassed.’

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Tunisia: Tents for Thousands at the Border


Opposition Leader Back in Tunisia


Tunisia's Upheaval Stirs Emotions in Arab World


Tunisia; The Man who set Himself on Fire (the first 2:00 minutes of the video)


Inside Story: The Military's Role in Tunisia