Faith

Veiled Student Accuses Tunisian University Dean of Assault in Continued Battle Over Islamism & Secularism

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — A dean at a Tunisian university appeared before a court Thursday on charges of assaulting a veiled student, a case that is part of a long-running dispute between secularists and religious conservatives at the school.

Students at Manouba University known as Salafis who follow an ultraconservative strand of Islam have been pushing for greater piety on the campus just outside Tunis, the capital, as well as for prayer rooms and allowing female students to sit exams wearing the religious face veil.

Habib Kazdaghli Accused of Assaulting Veiled Student in Tunisia

They have been opposed by Humanities Department Dean Habib Kazdaghli, who has denounced efforts to add religion to the university, and the result has been rival demonstrations, clashes between students and, at one point, a months-long sit-in by Salafis that disrupted winter exams.

A young Salafi student filed a lawsuit against Kazdaghli claiming he assaulted her in his office. The dean has denied that, saying he was only defending himself against an agitated student who burst into his office uninvited.

“The victim has become the guilty one,” he told The Associated Press. “It was I who first filed charges against the two veiled students who charged into my office and ransacked my papers.” He said his suit has yet to be acted on by prosecutors.

Kazdaghli is being charged with “violence perpetrated by a civil servant in the course of his duties,” a crime that carries a penalty of 16 days to three years in prison and a fine of between $37 and $300.

Habib Kazdaghli Accused of Assaulting Veiled Student in Tunisia

Habib Kazdaghli (Image Credit: Ansamed.info)

Manouba University has been one of the most visible flashpoints of the struggle in post-uprising Tunisia over the role of religion in public life.

Under the secular dictatorship of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, outward signs of religiosity were strongly discouraged and Islamists often imprisoned. Since his overthrow in a popular uprising in January 2011, there has been in an explosion of public piety, which has often come into conflict with many members of the secular establishment.

Thursday’s brief session of the trial was adjourned until Oct. 25 at the request of the defense.

It was attended in solidarity by many members of civil society and human rights activists.

Comments (7)

  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 5:58am

    Why do Muslim men not bring their wives to soccer games?? They keep jumping the fence to eat the grass.

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • Jerry Frey
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 2:49am

    Democracy and Islam mix like fire and water – doesn’t work.

    http://napoleonlive.info/see-the-evidence/arab-spring-update-2/

    Report Post »  
  • Lothmar
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:43pm

    Looks like those ring wraiths in the first picture want to make an objection. Or have a question?

    All I know is I think they’d make awesome yet terrifying mimes. ~chuckle~

    Report Post »  
  • deadend
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:36pm

    Like with communism this country is in a life and death strugel, if fact the evil is even greater as is the danger.

    Report Post »  
    • docgreen
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:47am

      Ok everyone, note this and mark my words about this. Women that wear the hiijab are raised in extremeists muslim homes. Where Sharia Law is practiced! When they get to the the Black Veil they are true Radical muslims! Terrorism and the Conquest of the West is their ultimate Goal! Sometimes you’ll see the younger girls wearing the hiijab, they’re fathers and family members are extremeists making them wear it. It will start like this and eventually when the muslims bring in their imam things become more radical. Then eventually becoming Sharia Compliant! Strict Sharia Law with then be forced on all muslims within that community. When you get a chance ask yourself this. Why is it Large muslim mosques are being built around the US? Like the Tennessee mosque. Keep in mind they’re building like a 45,000 sq ft building yet only have 200 families attending the mosque! Why? Keep in mind the imigration of thousands of muslims that are here illegally and don’t have green cards and or visas for school! Then think about what obama’s trying to do! It makes sense then, that they’re going to see mass amounts of muslims dispersing in the US! People were in big trouble here and we need to wake up!

      Report Post »  
    • docgreen
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 2:14am

      http://www.wnd.com/2012/07/egypt-conducts-1st-sex-slave-marriage/?cat_orig=faith

      And for all the minority’s and non muslims! Remember who started the slave trade in Africa; and everyone blamed the US and the Owners of Plantations for bringing the slaves here? Read this article and understand this. Its still very much practiced in muslim countries. Yes, its still taking place and never stopped after all these years! Now think about this, muslims take women and children in war. Some are sold, the girls and boys are raped and then used for enticing the boys to convert to islam and become child soldiers. The more the boys kill the more spoils they are given and it just keeps getting worse! The more they take in War the more Booty they get! Slavery is still alive and well in the muslim world! Why would any Black person ever want to join people that still practice slavery? Come on people, were not going to win this War if we keep thinking these people are civil and want what we want. We believe God granted us these Freedoms and our Military fought for these freedoms to keep the West Free. We can’t use the same tactics as you can see. How can we beat evil when they’re giving spoils of War to chiid soldiers for them to convert to islam? I’m talking about women and girls for converting to islam? If you were and adolescent boy, told you can have all the girls you want when you convert to islam and kill for islam. And if you don’t your killed? How can we compete ag

      Report Post »  
  • v15
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:56pm

    There are many good Muslim people in this world. That being said, if a follower of Islam becomes more spiritual, then does that make them potentially more prone to violence and rape? From an outsider’s perspective it looks like any time that Sharia Law is put in place then human rights go out the window. Sharia law has, to me, become synonymous with rape and murder. It has become synonymous with oppression and slavery. Am I wrong for thinking this? If a people studies the Koran are they more likely to want Sharia Law? Hit me up if anyone knows because “by their fruits ye should know them.”

    Report Post » v15  

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