RACHED GHANNOUCHI
(Rachid al-Ghannouchi | Rached el-Ghannouchi)
Actually, Tunisia—–had a very strong tradition of entrepreneurship in the trading business, but it had not spread to the other sectors at this time. Actually, must lesser developed countries tend to ignore the importance of entrepreneurship, and concentrate their economic development efforts on infrastructure and state controlled enterprises and strengthening the existing large businesses in the country. The latter generally do not want an entrepreneurial economy where there will be competitors threatening their typical monopolistic positions.
This illustrates the major problem of establishing democracy in an Islamic nation. If the mainstream of Islamic people accept democracy as in Turkey, there can be a vibrant democracy. But if the mainstream sees all other religions as heresy and insists on a literal interpretation of the Koran, then democracy is impossible as in Saudi Arabia.
In a country like Saudi Arabia, such a statement would be very radical. However, before the Arab Spring in Tunisia, that country was much more modern than most Arab nations and headscarfs were not required nor was there much social pressure for them except in the rural areas. So this was a status quo statement opposing the Islamic Parties which advocated mandatory traditional dress for women.
The "we" referred to the Tunisian Ennahda Party of which he was the founder.
The Arab world had no history or appreciation of democratic government controlled by the people with regime change at the public will.
It is precisely for these reasons that large numbers of Muslims consider Ghannouchi and other reformers to be threats to Islam and in need of suppression in order to protect their religion.
Rached Ghannouchi, also spelled Rachid al-Ghannouchi or Rached el-Ghannouchi, is a Tunisian politician and thinker, co-founder of the Ennahdha Party and serving as its "intellectual leader". He was born Rashad Khriji (راشد الخريجي).
