Tunisia’s Muslim Brotherhood opening the door for nationwide violence

Sara Rashad

Tunisia’s political forces have called on their supporters to rally in the streets to back their positions, in what promises to complicate the political situation in the North African country in the coming days even more.

Backing legitimacy

The Ennahda Movement, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Tunisia, also called its backers to assemble on the streets on 27 February.

The movement said its backers have to be present to support what it called “legitimacy”.

There are fears in Tunisia, meanwhile, that the presence of the backers of the nation’s political forces on the streets would open the door for violence that will be difficult by politicians to stop.

These fear are backed by an invitation by the head of the Free Destourian Party Abir Moussi for her followers to defend the Tunisian state and its republican system against what she described as the “Muslim Brotherhood project” which is being implemented by Ennahda Movement.

Moussi’s invitation throw light on her efforts to increase ramp up pressure on the Muslim Brotherhood and get public support in the face of the control they impose on Tunisian institutions, especially the parliament.

Egyptian model

Tunisia seems to be following in the footsteps of Egypt, especially in 2013 when the Muslim Brotherhood asked its followers to descend to the streets to defend what it described as “legitimacy”.

The political crisis in Tunisia started when the country’s president turned down a cabinet lineup proposed by the prime minister that gives ministerial portfolios to people accused of corruption.

However, the Ennahda Movement and the prime minister insist to form the cabinet as proposed by the prime minister.