Ennahda

Quick Facts: Who was Ennahda?

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Ennahda

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A major Islamic democratic political party in Tunisia, central to the post-revolution politics.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Ennahda Movement (Arabic: حركة النهضة, romanized: Ḥarakatu n-Nahḍah; French: Mouvement Ennahdha), also known as the Renaissance Party or simply known as Ennahda, is a self-defined Islamic democratic political party in Tunisia. Founded as the Movement of Islamic Tendency in 1981, Ennahda was inspired by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and through the latter, to Ruhollah Khomeini's own propelled ideology of "Islamic Government". In the wake of the 2011 Tunisian revolution and collapse of the government of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Ennahda Movement Party was formed, and in the 2011 Tunisian Constituent Assembly election (the first free election in the country's history), won a plurality of 37% of the popular vote and formed the government. Uproar in the traditionally secular country over "Islamization" and assassinations of two secular politicians however, led to the 2013–14 Tunisian political crisis, and the party stepped down following the implementation of a new constitution in January 2014. The party came in second with 27.79% of the vote, in the 2014 Tunisian parliamentary election, forming a coalition government with the largest secular party, but did not offer or endorse a candidate in the November 2014 presidential election.

Career & Major Achievements

In 2018, lawyers and politicians accused Ennahda of forming a secret organisation that had infiltrated security forces and the judiciary. They also claimed the party was behind the 2013 assassinations of Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi, two progressive political leaders of the leftist Popular Front electoral alliance. Ennahda denied the accusations and accused the Popular Front of slandering and distorting Ennahda. It said that the Popular Front was exploiting the two assassination cases and using blood as an excuse to reach the government after failing to do so through democratic means. In 2016, following 2011 and the "Arab Spring" mainstream media reports, journalist Robert F. Worth called it "the mildest and most democratic Islamist party in history." The Hudson Institute was skeptical, highlighting the adoption of the Velâyat-e Faqih by the movement's founder Rached Ghannouchi, who has remained its president since 1984.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Rached Ghannouchi says textually in his book: "The Islamic government is one in which: 1- supreme legislative authority is for the shari'a, which is the revealed law of Islam, which transcends all laws. (...)" According to associate professor of political science Sebnem Gumuscu, there were competing views within the party about liberal democracy in its early years, but since the 1990s, liberal Islamists pulled Ennahda towards democratic principles. Succeeding a group known as Islamic Action, the party was founded under the name of "Movement of Islamic Tendency" (French: Mouvement de la Tendance Islamique (MTI), Arabic: حركة الاتجاه الإسلامي Ḥarakatu l-Ittijāhu l-Islāmī) in 1981. After the Tunisian bread riots in January 1984 the government suspected the MTI of involvement in the disturbances, and arrested many of its supporters. The MTI leaders had encouraged their followers to join in the riots, but the government produced no proof that they had organized them.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1981: 1981 Milestone — Founded as the Movement of Islamic Tendency in 1981, Ennahda was inspired by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and through the latter, to Ruhollah Khomeini's own propelled ideology of "Islamic Government".
2. 1984: 1984 Milestone — " The Hudson Institute was skeptical, highlighting the adoption of the Velâyat-e Faqih by the movement's founder Rached Ghannouchi, who has remained its president since 1984.
3. 2011: 2011 Milestone — In the wake of the 2011 Tunisian revolution and collapse of the government of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Ennahda Movement Party was formed, and in the 2011 Tunisian Constituent Assembly election (the first free election in the country's history), won a plurality of 37% of the popular vote and formed the government.
4. 2013: 2013 Milestone — Uproar in the traditionally secular country over "Islamization" and assassinations of two secular politicians however, led to the 2013–14 Tunisian political crisis, and the party stepped down following the implementation of a new constitution in January 2014.
5. 2014: 2014 Milestone — 79% of the vote, in the 2014 Tunisian parliamentary election, forming a coalition government with the largest secular party, but did not offer or endorse a candidate in the November 2014 presidential election.
6. 2016: 2016 Milestone — In 2016, following 2011 and the "Arab Spring" mainstream media reports, journalist Robert F.
7. 2018: 2018 Milestone — In 2018, lawyers and politicians accused Ennahda of forming a secret organisation that had infiltrated security forces and the judiciary.

Notable Quotes by Ennahda

“The Islamic government is one in which: 1- supreme legislative authority is for the shari'a, which is the revealed law of Islam, which transcends all laws. (...)”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ennahda

True or False: “Did Ennahda initially advocate for a strict adherence to Islamic law that superseded all other legal frameworks?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): Rached Ghannouchi's stated view indicates that the supreme legislative authority is for Sharia, which transcends all laws.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ennahda