Tunis - Azhar Jarbou
In an interview with Arab Today, Tunisian parliamentarian Samia Abbou said violent threats have been made towards her by a representative of the ruling Ennahda Movement. The National Constituent Assembly (NSA) member accused Niguib Bin-Mourad of terrorising her after she criticised the Islamist party’s draft constitution. In her comments, she said it was “tyrannical that aims to serve the interests of the Muslim Brotherhood.” She added: “It could pave the way for establishment of a religious state based on the whims of the rulers, not the rule of law.” Egypt’s ruling Islamist Muslim Brotherhood party is widely believed to have followers within Ennahda, which came into power in 2011, following a turbulent Tunisian revolution. Originally founded in 1981, the movement’s leader Rashid Ghannouchi received much inspiration from the Muslim Brotherhood, which he disseminated in Tunisia. Samia Abbou said the new constitution could potentially undermine the Judiciary, which could have serious repercussions on civil freedom.