From Arab Spring to Islamist Autumn?

6 March / 20h45 / Alhambra / Co-présenté par Le Temps

The movements of revolt in the Arab world and Iran have underlined peoples' need for justice and liberty from ruling tyrannies. And yet, the outcome of the first free elections following the Arab Spring was a large-scale victory for Islamic parties. In addition to Ennahda in Tunisia, the fundamentalist Salafi have emerged on the Egyptian political stage alongside the Muslim Brotherhood. And in Libya, Sharia law has been declared the basis of legislation.

Undoubtedly, Islamic movements appeared as the best organized forces in the Arab world during the decades of dictatorship. They made up for social neglect by the state, thereby building close relationships with the poorest sectors of the population.

Today, the new democracies need to rebuild all that is political, social and economic. By voting for them, people expect these victorious parties to bring about changes. But what changes? What political directions to take? And what will be the place of Islam?

Knowing that the parties involved remain very evasive on these issues, is it possible to imagine Muslim Democratic parties on the model of Europe's Christian Democrats? What are the expectations in relation to the separation of religion and state?

As a model praised by the Islamists, Turkey's PKK has been able to ally strong Muslim roots with respect for secular principles. But last September, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's speech in Cairo on respect for secular principles aroused the anger of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Have the Islamists understood that a compromise between respect for certain dogmas and that for democratic principles is unavoidable? Or, as Egyptian film-maker Yousry Nasrallah declares, are we witnessing the "confiscation of the revolution"? Many grey areas remain as to individual liberties, especially relating to religious minorities and women's rights.

Carole Vann