Montreal Times – April 5, 2014
The 16th edition of Montreal’s literary festival Blue Metropolis will be held from April 28 to May 4. […] Blue Metropolis also awards each year special prizes to writers from different backgrounds. […] Tunisian writer Habib Selmi will be awarded the Blue Metropolis Al Majidi Ibn Dhaher Arab Prize. He is the author of the novels “The Scent of Marie-Claire” and “The Women of al-Bassatin” and will receive his award at the Salle Jardin of the Hotel 10, on May 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Last year, Habib Selmi criticized Ennahda and the Salafists in an interview given to a German periodical.
qantara.de – 2013
qantara.de: Tunisian society, as it is depicted in your novel [“The Women of Al-Basatin”], appears sharply divided. On the one hand, there is the dominance of a strict faith. Some are even demanding the introduction of Sharia law. On the other hand, many look with yearning towards the West and desire more personal freedom and material prosperity. In your opinion, in which direction is Tunisian society currently moving?
Habib Selmi: I think that Tunisian society will develop in different direction from that desired by the Ennahda government. The vast majority of Tunisians are traditional in outlook, but they would never want to live according to medieval laws. They respect Islam, however, prefer a tolerant form of Islam that is moderate and open. From a historical and geographical perspective, Tunisia has always been a country open to other civilizations. This stance is part of our identity.
qantara.de: To a large extent, the present political situation is tied up with the position of women in society. Before the revolution, Tunisia was regarded as a secular Islamic state. Headscarves, for instance, were banned in schools and universities. Do you believe that the role of women in Tunisia will be pushed back or do you see signs of progress in this crucial matter?
Habib Selmi: More and more women in Tunisia are wearing the headscarf, just like Jussra, one of the main characters in my novel. Ennahda and the Salafists, or at least some of them, even want to ban women from working. They regard the hearth and home as the proper place for women. Yet, many Tunisian women and men do not accept this view. A large portion of the Tunisian population, however, hold firm to the rights of Tunisian women, who enjoy a special status in the Arab world. Tunisia is the only Arab country in which multiple marriage is forbidden. I recently attended a demonstration in Tunis that supported transforming Women’s Day into a day of women’s rights. More than 300,000 men and women took part.
qantara.de: The main fear in Europe concerns the growing influence of the Salafists. In your estimation, how great is the movement’s spread? Is there a danger of the kind of social division currently being experienced in Egypt?
Habib Selmi: Indeed, the Salafists do pose a great danger. They have become more numerous in recent years, especially following the Arab revolutions, as they have used freedom and democracy to their advantage. It is quite likely that they will cause serious problems in Arab countries as in the West, but I do not believe that Tunisia will experience a similar division in society like in Egypt. The simple reason is that Egypt was ruled by a single party, the Muslim Brotherhood, whereas, since the overthrow of Ben Ali, Tunisia has been led by a coalition of three parties, two of which are not religious and therefore regarded as “secular”.
