I reject all exclusion, extremism

Soad Abd Al Rahim, Constituent Assembly member for Ennahda Movement, said that there was no prejudice with any of the chapters of Personal Status Law in Tunisia besides one exception. The only issue to arise was with adoption to be turned into legal guardianship to which she said "this point will be resolved by voting on it." Abd Al Rahim added in a statement to ‘Arabstoday’: "The societal program of Ennahda will diminish all wrong impressions taken by majority people in Tunisia regarding the movement as it is determined to show how it is a moderate party emanating from Tunisian society." She also stated that Bin Ali's system succeeded in using the scarecrows of Islamists and war on terrorism in justifying the oppression of his opponents and critics, who were imprisoned since 1989. That year was also the first election in which Ennahda participated, gaining more than 20 per cent of parliamentary seats until the results were forged. Soad, a businesswoman who does not sport the veil, stressed that she was an electoral candidate for a vast electoral district and her appearance as an unveiled lady was one of the requirements of Ennahda’s electoral campaign to show that the veil shall not be compulsory for Tunisian women. “I support freedom of dressing and reject all types of exclusion and extremism as there is a public system we have to respect," she said. She made clear that "Ennahda would not impose polygamy or the veil".  Ennahda head Rachid Al-Ghanouchi had earlier stated that they would address the issue of polygamy as “default", to which Soad explained: "Polygamy is not compulsory, but a conditional practice in Islam. And in view of Ennahda Movement’s present opinion on polygamy, it will raise several societal problems just like the issue of homeless children, so we are inclined to ban what is eligible in favour of greater and more important interests."                Soada Abd El Rahim, a pharmacist, also answered questions raised about the possibility of her nomination by party leaders to take charge of the National Constituent Assembly in which Ennahda holds the majority with 90 seats, 42 of which were women’s. "Collecting responsibilities is not within my interests, but if the party thinks I’m fit for the job, I'll undertake this responsibility and do my best to succeed." Many spectators of the political landscape suggest that assigning the charge to an unveiled woman would represent a slap-down to secularists who criticise Ennahda and its policies. They also believe that such action will have a great influence on national and international levels.        In response to allegations that Ennahda panders to the elite, Soad said "This is completely illogical. It is completely baseless as the movement has almost a million members and an ambitious program designed by specialists in all fields, and it is not fair to talk about it losing its way without giving it the opportunity to fulfil its promises and realise the 350 points of which the program consists." Soad also warned that "Islamophobia suffered by an important sect of Tunisians implies a risk of discouraging foreign investment, so the movement has developed a realistic program for foreign investors, especially Europe, which will last as a distinguished partner of Tunisia."