No doubt, the story of Hijab in Tunisia is heart-aching. In my previous article "Tunisia, a Story of War on Hijab", I gave a detailed account of the story from the very beginning. I highlighted the fact that the French colonization could make use of Tunisian male and female figures to put into force its plans aiming at having women forsake their hijab and chastity. By doing so, it targeted destroying the Tunisian society, trying to deprive it of its Islamic identity and leading the youth into an abyss of lustfulness and dissolution. Actually, the French colonization managed to a great extent to achieve its goals; it even achieved greater success after its withdrawal from Tunisia as late president Bourguiba was exploited to back the goals of colonization. It was so much that he enacted the law of 1981 to the effect of banning Tunisian women from wearing hijab.

 Zine el Abidine Ben Ali following the steps of Bourguiba

 Moreover, a Tunisian woman who is to perform Hajj or 'Umrah (minor pilgrimage) can were hijab only after the airplane leaves Tunisia and has to take it off once the airplane lands on Tunisian lands. I heard such and like stories myself from individuals of Tunisian communities all over the world. Contrary to other communities, I was hit by a strange phenomenon. It is usual that Muslims living in Europe or the US think about coming back home once their young daughters reach the age of adolescence so that daughters might not be morally spoilt by the Western society. Amazingly, I came to know that many Tunisian families immigrate from Tunisia to Europe or the US when their daughters got older searching for a society in which their daughters can wear hijab!!

Actually, it is a reverse incomprehensible situation! However, it is the actual fact.

As a result of such a fierce battle, the percentage of veiled women during the 1990s witnessed a huge decrease. The situation even worsened after September 11th 2001 events in the US. Thus, war on hijab and other Islamic fundamentals got more fierce on the pretext of war on terrorism and as an attempt made by the Tunisian regime to curry favor with the US, bearing in mind that situations in Morocco and Algeria is unstable.

 Tunisian Islamic awakening

 However, "Glorified is He in Whose Hands is the dominion of the heavens and the earth!"

An Islamic awakening became active in Tunisia in 2002, perhaps in reaction to the relentless attack on Islam led by the US. In fact, it often happens that severe oppression fuels faith energy in the hearts of male and female Muslims. Hijab began to prevail once again. Accordingly, the Tunisian regime came to know that unjust legislations, unfair laws, iron hand policy and multiplicity of prisons could not decrease male and female Tunisians' love of Islam. Actually, Islam is in believers' hearts is like a firebrand that might fade for a while but never goes out.

This coincided with the appearance of many Islamic websites as well as Islamic-oriented satellite channels and the widespread of a public Islamic awakening all over the Muslim world, whose wind strongly hit Tunisia. Hijab made its way through universities, institutions and even public and private authorities.

However, the government did not sit on its hands regarding this widely circulating activity. Rather, it began to strongly harass veiled women especially university students. It sought to reactivate unjust laws running counter to the Tunisian constitution. Anyway, the Islamic spirit had already penetrated into the souls of the deep-rooted Tunisian people, which caused a public atmosphere of refusal to the ruling regime's breach of religion fundamentals. Thus, many strong protests were made in 2003 by some Tunisian groups against Tunisian authorities. Most important among such protests was the one made by some Tunisian lawyers and political figures who demanded putting an end to the heinous act of violating the privacy of chaste Tunisian women who commit themselves to the Islamic clothes.

A statement was also issued by the National Council for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT) criticizing many educational institutions and universities for banning veiled women from entering the educational edifice. Three days later, on June 2nd, 2003, a group of veiled Tunisian students condemned the Tunisian regime for banning them from undergoing the second term exams because of their hijab. The situation even worsened by the end of the year when more than hundred lawyers and human rights activists signed a petition condemning the Tunisian regime for its dealing with the issue of hijab. The petition, submitted to the president on November 11th, 2003, stated, "Veiled Tunisian women are deprived of work and joining educational institutions and universities from the beginning of the year. Policemen also proceed to rebuke them and forcibly remove their hijab while insulting them in a very obscene language even in the presence of their husbands or brothers. They are also forced to sign a statement to the effect that they will not wear hijab in the future."

 Examples of war on hijab in Tunisia

 Regarding such Islamic activity, secularist Tunisian societies moved to the opposite direction. Fierce discussions took place in the meeting rooms of these societies. For example, the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, a secularist feminist society, stressed in its annual conference on March 8th, 2004 its decisive refusal of hijab, being, according to them, a symbol of backwardness and retrogression.

Violations did not come to an end. Rather, they knew such new unimaginable dimensions as children-related issues. In this regard, the Tunisian police attacked toy shops that sell the doll "Fullah", a famous doll of a veiled girl. Amazingly, even children's dolls are not permitted to wear hijab! Accordingly, there is no doubt that educational curricula are totally void of any picture of a veiled woman. Furthermore, the minister of education issued a decision in 2006 suspending the teacher Saida Adalah from work for 3 months along with suspending her salary because she wore hijab inside the school. Thank Allah, the decision was annulled by the Tunisian judiciary for contradicting the Tunisian constitution.

In addition, the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs in Tunisia issued a decree stressing banning hijab in all its institutions. The decree provides that hijab, or any head cover, including handkerchiefs or hats, is a form of extremism. The decree further demands confronting all those who wear or use the above-referred to things - as if hijab or handkerchief is a terrorist weapon whose wearing women has to be confronted.

Anyway, the final example we saw took place two weeks ago when Tunisian universities had their female students sign a document obliging them to enter the campus bare-headed.

In fact, it is a not a war on hijab only but also on Islam itself. In this regard, the abovementioned facts regarding war on hijab is no more than an example of the Tunisian regime's obstinacy regarding anything Islamic. Actually, there are many other examples of heart-aching war on Islam. To this effect, many human rights committees recorded many continuous persecutions and violations. More dangerous, the Tunisian government is trying to "eradicate the sources". In this respect, it bans enlightening Islamic websites and some satellite channels. It also imposes restrictions on the visits of some sheikhs and scholars. In general, it aims at hindering Tunisians from going in line with the Islamic awakening prevalent all over the Muslim world.

 A word to the Tunisian government

 In this article, I would like to advise the Tunisian government truthfully and out of sincere love to reexamine its methodologies and approaches and to regain consciousness. I adjure it to repent to Allah and to impartially reconsider the matter from the viewpoint of keeping the interest of Tunisia not that of a little group of individuals or foreign countries.

No doubt, Tunisia is on the verge of great perils in case it continues to deal in such a perverted manner with its people. Foremost among such perils is the prevalence of corruption and dissolution in the society as a result of non-concealing the charms of women. Such a dissolution might lead the society to self-destruction. A study conducted by the National Board for Family and Population inferred the fact that 11.9% of Tunisian girls would agree to make love before marriage, which is also agreed by 40% of young men. Although a very painful percentage, it represents the least number recorded in this respect. (Actually, many other studies record much higher percentages.)

The greater disaster is the statistic issued by the National Family Health Survey, a governmental organization, in 2007 stating that 18% of Tunisian wives and 60% of Tunisian husbands (in the age range between 18 and 29) have illicit relations outside the marital frame!

As a result of the prevalence of indecency, celibacy rose to a very high level. Celibacy rose to 65% among youths in the age range between 25 and 29 in 2006 compared to 53.9% in 2001.

In fact, dissolution is not the only disaster facing Tunisia. I strongly warn the Tunisian government against something scaring indeed!

Actually, continuous pressure on the people will never guarantee security for you, will not give you steadfastness facing your enemies and will never keep for you your authority (as you wish). Severing ties between the people and authorities will inevitably lead to a revolution. There certainly will come a time when the situation gets so intolerable that people will coup against those who subjugate and humiliate them. Revolution, in such a case, might not be systematic and may exceed all reasonable and familiar limits. You may also push them to the absolutely opposite direction and thus give rise to extremist Islamic currents which deem bloodshed permissible and thus destroy the society.

Undoubtedly, such are not unrealistic pessimistic predictions. As a matter of fact, we can currently see them as true. In fact, the wave of terrorism sweeping the whole world is no more than a reaction to subjugation practiced by Islam enemies. Actually, Islam enemies are not only Christians, Jews, magi, Hindus and communists, but they are also often some of those who claim to be Muslims. It is a trial that makes the wise man bewildered! Actually, a crusader or a tartaric is well-known, while hypocrites dare launch a war on Islam seeking evidence, falsely and untruly, in a Qur'anic verse, whose meaning they twist, or a Hadith, whose notion they interpolate. Therefore, they might be a trial for Muslim masses. In this regard, the Tunisian Minister of Religious Affairs described hijab as a garment of foreign origin having a partisan connotation and represents an abnormal case. Actually, these words are not of a journalist; rather, they are the words of the highest authority in religious affairs!! Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (may Allah show mercy to him) reported that 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattab narrated the Prophet (peace be upon him) to have said, "That which I fear the most for my Ummah is an eloquent hypocrite."

No doubt, the results of such a sinful war are ultimately serious. The most dangerous and sorrowful result indeed is the fact that the Tunisian regime involves itself in a war against Allah and His Messenger, a war whose beginning and end are definitely marked by failure. Decisively, people who show enmity to their Lord will by no means be successful. For better knowledge about results, refer to history events. Allah (the Exalted) said, " Say to them (O Muhammad SAW) "Travel in the land and see how has been the end of the criminals (those who denied Allah's Messengers and disobeyed Allah)."" [Al-Naml, 69].

A word to the Tunisian people

Finally, I would like to give a word to our brothers and sisters in Muslim Tunisia.

Do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers.

Be sure that childbirth is always associated with pains and the darkest hour is just before the dawn. Likewise, there must be an end to all oppressors and thus you may not lose hearts because of the persecution and vicious plans you see. Actually, such are the acts of weightless invaluable persons. In fact, the powerful plan is that of Allah and the wise arrangement is that of Him. Allah (the Exalted) said, "So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, all together. These are their houses in utter ruin, for they did wrong. Verily, in this is indeed an Ayah (a lesson or a sign) for people who know. And We saved those who believed, and used to fear Allah, and keep their duty to Him." [Al-Naml, 50-53].

A final word to our chaste sisters in Tunisia.

You do not defend only your hijab or even only yourselves. Rather, you defend Islam and the Ummah as a whole.

So, fear Allah regarding your Hijab.

And fear Allah regarding your faith.

You bear a flag that might serve for all Muslims as a light at the end of the dark tunnel the Ummah had entered into for so long. So be on your guard so that the flag may never fall down.

Dear struggler women, victory will b yours at the end. So, do never despair. (And Allah has full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind do not know it.)

I ask Allah to glorify Islam and Muslims.

Dr. Ragheb ElSergany

https://www.islamstory.com/index.php/en/artical/3407507