Divisions hit Tunisia’s Ennahda

Asmaa El-Batakoushy

Tunisia’s Ennahda Movement, the Muslim Brotherhood’s arm in Tunisia, has been going through divisions, raising questions about the reasons for this, especially as the movement has always bragged about its solidarity.

Abdul Hamid al-Jalasi, the former deputy head of the Ennahda Movement, resigned on March 4 from the party, Tunisian radio Mosaïque FM said, citing that his resignation was caused by his own dissatisfaction with the movement’s policies in recent years.

Al-Jalasi in criticized in a televised interview what he labeled as dictatorship in parties, which turns its back to democracy. He said these parties pose a threat to the country, referring to Ennahda Movement.

In 2015, al-Jalasi resigned from his position as deputy head of Ennahda Movement, and seriously decried the movement in public.

However, some Tunisian newspapers said al-Jalasi’s resignation was for another reason, citing that he had lost his influence. Al-Jalasi considers himself to be one of the movement’s founders.

The Tunisian newspapers also highlighted the big differences disagreement within the movement, noting that some members of Ennahda’s shura council had warned of massive resignations from the movement.

These resignations fuel tensions within Ennahdha Movement, which has been keen on keeping internal disagreement hidden from the public.