Exploring Islam, Politics, and Democracy in Tunisia with a France Academician

To sharpen our understanding of the recent situation of Tunisia after the Arab spring, Bi-Weekly Forum #22 the Adab and Cultural Sciences Faculty, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga held a public seminar via Zoom entitled “Islam, Politics, and Democratization in Tunisia” with Samia Kotele, M.A., a Ph.D. candidate of Lyon Institute of East Asian Studies, France. She is currently working on the history of female ulama in Indonesia since the 19th century.

On this occasion, she presented some similarities of social aspects between Indonesia and Tunisia, civil society’s problems in Tunisia are both related to the regeneration of civil society and the pressure that they are facing in the country. Furthermore, she demonstrated about the political agreement among some parties especially Ennahda, Ghannouchi, Nidaa Tounes and Pour Caid Essebsi.

The virtual seminar was attended by the faculty members and students of Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences as well as from outside the faculty. The discussion took place on December 3rd, 2021, and was led by Dr. Andi Holilulloh, S.Pd.I., M.A, a lecturer of Language and Arabic Literature.