Tunisia’s Ennahda uses Qatari funding to improve its image in Europe

Asmaa El-Batakoushy

The Tunisian Ennahda Movement, the Muslim Brotherhood’s arm, is trying to improve its image and boost its position in Europe on the back of the Brotherhood’s failure in many Arab countries and recent calls for its ban in European countries.

A French newspaper has exposed that Ennahda had paid a British PR firm $18 million for improving its image to the world.

Qatar has also been involved in financing Ennahda. According to the abovementioned report issued by the Accounting Department, funding violations were committed in 2014, in the Tunisian elections with funds received from foreign donors, especially Qatar.

The report said some political parties, including Ennahda, and other Islamist parties as well as individuals had received the money, which was used to buy votes.

Tunisian political analyst Nizar Mekni said that Ennahda’s policies are not different from the agenda adopted by the Muslim Brotherhood’s international organization.

The analyst told THE REFERENCE that millions of dollars were injected in the Tunisian elections to secure the movement’s victory by paying voters.