I haven’t written in a while, and usually have little to say about world politics, but I have been watching the news a little more closely the last few days. I have been talking to friends in Tunisia as the events have unfolded there. Many expect freedom to follow the ousting of long-time Tunisian President Ben Ali, but these are precarious times. While I do not know enough of the politics of the region to offer much insight, I do have several questions and concerns as I watch the situation unfold.
As opposition parties are given a voice and the country attempts to form a unity government composed of these different parties, there are several ways this could shake down. In opening up the government to opposition parties, there is the possibility that extremist groups could get a foot hold. While Ben Ali had many faults, one of the things he seemed to do well was protect against violent Islamic extremism. With these safeguards being removed, extremist parties could very well find themselves in positions of power. Al Qaeda already recruits from Tunisia and trains militants in neighboring Algeria. Does this open a door for their involvement in Tunisian politics that would never have been possible under Ben Ali? I doubt the Tunisians would allow Al Qaeda to openly sponsor candidates, but what about smaller extremist groups or Al Qaeda fronts? Separately, what would a democratic state in Tunisia do to Al Qaeda recruiting in the country? Would it lessen their base, or anger those who recognized the new state as a rejection of Islamic values in favor of Western (i.e. Christian) ideas?
As media censorship is removed and more Tunisians discover the non-Muslim world, what effects will this have? How will this change how the ordinary Tunisian sees the world?
What does this mean for the rest of the Arab world? Similar demonstrations have taken place in Algeria, Egypt, and Jordan. Several governments are already talking concessions. Kuwait is trying to pay off the public. Is Tunisia the first in a series of revolutions that will shake up the Arab world? What does this mean for the future of Islam in the region? Does Islam begin to fracture? Does the balance of power in Islam spread westward or into Africa (which is fast becoming the center of global Christianity)?
The other question I posed to a friend there was simply, ‘What does freedom look like for Tunisians?’ (especially religious freedom). Currently, Christians can legally meet together and form churches, but proselytizing is illegal, and Christians have been repeatedly arrested and threatened by the police. Will this change? There really is not a model in the Arab world for what Tunisia is going through. While there is religious freedom in Lebanon, there is a large population of Christians. In Tunisia, Christians only number in the thousands. Will they be free? Do they receive a seat at the table in the new government? Will laws against proselytizing be removed? Will Tunisia allow missionaries to enter the country?
What does this shift in the political landscape mean for Christians in Tunisia? Will Tunisians finally discover their pre-Islamic Christian history? From all I have seen and heard, I think Christianity is growing in Tunisia and could gather steam. I sense that Christianity could begin to spread rapidly at any moment, as it is doing in neighboring Algeria. Perhaps the change in political climate could be the spark that starts a forest fire.
If you’re reading this from Tunisia, or for that matter, anywhere else in the Arab world, please comment. I would love to hear what others are thinking about this situation. Or even if you’re looking at this from the outside and see something I’m missing, leave a comment. What do you see happening?
Click here to hear an interview with a Tunisian friend of mine on Chicago’s Moody Radio.
Seeking The Face 