Arab Maghreb Islamists fear repercussions of Libyan scene

Sarah Rashad

The statements of condemnation issued by groups of the Islamist movement in Morocco cannot be separated from the military actions launched by the Libyan army a week ago in Tripoli to purge it of the terrorist militias, regardless of the good situation of these groups in their countries, as even some reached ministries and government leaderships.

Unlike the Arab Mashriq, according to research studies, these groups witness a state of stability, the matter that made these groups look at its experience in Morocco as if was the only guarantee for their survival, which indicates its desperate defense for its gains in the Arab Maghreb.

Meanwhile, and under the supervision of the consensus government, the Libyan National Army moved to Tripoli to eliminate Islamist groups that control the capital, therefore, their counterparts in Tunisia and Algeria condemned the army’s actions.

Ennahda movement in Tunisia, an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood, issued a statement earlier this week, signed by its leader Rached al-Ghannouchi, condemning the movements of the Libyan army, considering it a “brutal move.”

Tunisian activists slammed the statement, accusing Ennahda of violating the Tunisian Constitution by commenting on the affairs of other countries.

Abdul-Razzaq al-Maqri, the head of Algeria’s Movement of Society for Peace, also condemned the Libyan army’s actions, considering it as “provocative,” and that it is a kind of pressure on the military establishment in his country to execute agendas.

Observers see that Islamist groups in the Arab Magreb fear for their future in case the political map changed in Libya and Islamists got kicked out of the scene, as this would affect their neighbors in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

This connection supports the political atmosphere in Tunisia and Algeria; as Tunisia is getting ready to conduct Parliamentary and Presidential elections by the end of this year, with Ennahda expecting to achieve good results, therefore it fears that it might get affected by the situation in Libya.

Libyan political analyst Abdelhakim Fanoush supports this connection as he said Islamist groups in Algeria and Morocco see that Arab Maghreb as one body, therefore, the situation in Libya will definitely affect their popularity.

Moreover, Libyan researcher Mohammed al-Zubaidi said that Islamists in Libya were not popular, however, they were imposed as reality, pointing out that their presence in Libya was to complete the scene of the Maghreb, where Islamists have influence.

He said freeing Libya from the grip of Islamists means that it will join the Eastern camp, which got rid itself of the ruling of religious groups.

It is pertinent to mention that Islamist groups are facing a new challenge in Tunisia and Algeria as elections are expected to be held during the transitional period, and this will either added to the series of failure of political Islam, or returning it to the scene.