Tunisia is no democracy; it is a dictatorship that practices political assassination and torture; that thrives on widespread corruption. It is our duty to support its people, and particularly the country’s youth, as they take to the streets to demand freedom, respect and protection of human rights. Only a dictator could claim that the rioting in the streets of Tunisia is the result of “foreign meddling” and “unpardonable” acts akin to “terrorism.” The Tunisian regime, that incorruptible paragon of democracy, has spoken. Its Western allies express concern, of course, but condemnation has been slow in coming. Police and troops have used live ammunition against civilians; dozens have been killed. Not enough, it seems, to move Western governments. Their ally in Tunis must enjoy special privileges from the International Community to be able to deal as it pleases with opposition—or with any attempt to resist its dictatorial and oppressive ways.
Tunisia is no democracy; it is a dictatorship that practices political assassination and torture; that thrives on widespread corruption. It is our duty to support its people, and particularly the country’s youth, as they take to the streets to demand freedom, respect and protection of human rights. The time has come—it’s not too late!—to bring an end to this self-styled “modern” masquerade of democracy and progress designed to fool tourists and the gullible. The time has come—its not too late!—to call out to an awakening people: we are with you; we are not fooled! Tunisians, you are right to revolt! The silent onlookers, those whose only concern is to protect their political or economic interests, will be left with their shame. Whether the uprising ends in success or failure, its principles—resistance to the dictatorship and exposing its supporters (dictators, democrats and/or hypocrites)—will not disappear.
In Algeria, calm appears to be returning to the streets, but the people’s demands have lost none of their legitimacy. Where has the country’s oil wealth gone? Who are the corrupt individuals who stuff the pockets of their business cronies with fraudulent profits and illegal commissions while poverty spreads, unemployment soars and the entire system is collapsing upon a population that is already fighting for its life. Algeria, like its president, is suffering from disease: a closed system, systemic corruption, rampant lies and manipulation. The streets have spoken, and will speak again. Whether in the coming days or the coming weeks, they must be heard. The time has come—it’s not too late!
Horrifying news from Niger: two young French citizens kidnapped and murdered in cold blood. Condemnation of these repugnant acts must be clear, decisive and unequivocal. Such things must not happen; extremist groups that are either manipulated or manipulators (whether of religion and its principles, or of any other cause) must be opposed and fought. As I stated at the International Symposium of French-speaking Muslims (CIMEF) in July 2010, I reiterate today that nothing can justify the murder of innocents (or any other similar act) be it in the name of Islam or of any other political ideology.
At the same time that we restate our condemnation in the strongest possible terms, we must also express with identical clarity our reservations about French and African government strategies for dealing with the threat of violent extremist groups and networks. Last summer I met three African military men who told me of their pangs of conscience, their concern and even the anguish they have suffered as a result of orders they have been forced to carry out, of the methods they have been obliged to use against these networks in the Sahel, where distinguishing extremists from bandits or looters is impossible. These orders are: take no prisoners; liquidate all the members of a group once it has been identified and located, whether or not it is armed or combat-ready. One of the officers confided in me that when he informed his superiors that he had located a small group, not prepared for combat, which included two women, the answer was immediate: “Liquidate all of them. Take no prisoners!” Why? How can such killing be justified? Another officer revealed that he had found the corpse of an individual captured on an earlier expedition and subsequently set free among the dead several weeks later. As strategies go, it is strange, pitiless and above all incomprehensible. The French army is well aware of these tactics; in an atmosphere of folly and futility, hunting down the kidnappers led inevitably to the death of their two captives.
But the killings in Niger cannot be viewed, nor condemned, in isolation. France’s Sahel strategy must be exposed for what it is. The reign of terror, strategic confusion (is France fighting terrorism, banditry or corruption?), summary executions, non-respect of human life and of prisoners, and improvised military action cannot provide security either to Africans (Malians, Nigerians, etc.) or to French expatriates. Once again, by attempting to rescue two hostages “African style’ France is fooling itself in Africa. Once again. But many African countries are also fooling themselves. It is high time to develop a coherent strategy for fighting violent extremists; to respect the basic principles of dignity and international law; not to believe that what is happening in the Sahel, far from the cameras, can be hidden by media silence. Innocent people have paid a high price. This must end. The time has come—it’s not too late!
Our sympathy to the families of the victims in Tunisia, in Algeria and in France: we stand shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed, with the innocent victims. Always.
May Allah give them strength to carry out their goals, Amen