Ennahda cancels Qaradawi reception

Tunisia's ruling Ennahda party has cancelled a public reception for Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi upon his arrival at Tunis-Carthage Airport on Thursday morning. The movement said in a brief statement Wednesday that the welcome event was cancelled as it was"unnecessary and more convenient to the dear guest, as his plane would arrive early Thursday". The statement added that the Sheikh will be speaking at a rally held at Rades stadium on May 3 at 7pm to commemorate the summit of the Union of Muslim Scholars, hosted for the first time in Tunisia. Observers denied the cancellation was due to security fears, especially after many Tunisians objected to al-Qaradawi's visit for praising Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's regime a few months before his downfall. The official website of al-Qaradawi has emphasised that his visit was in response to an invitation from Ennahde head Rashid Ghannouchi. The religious figure is expected to deliver several sermons in a number of Tunisian governorates. He is also expected to lead worship in the Mosque of Uqba, also known as the Great Mosque of Kairouan (160km south of Tunis) during Friday prayers.