First Salafist party to be licensed in Tunisia

The Reformation Front Party in Tunisia, is the first Salafist party to be licensed in the country by the interior ministry, as a result of the Arab Spring. The previous interim government, led by Baji Qaid al-Sibsi, had refused to license this party previously, for the reason that some of the party's founders been have prosecuted on terror charges in the late eighties. Noufel Sassi, one of the party's founders, told Arabstoday that: "the Reformation Front Party is based on the religious methods taught by the Prophet Mohammed, called "Manhaj al-Sunna wal Jama'a". He stressed "the party is a moderate one, which believes in democracy, a civil state and the people's right to choose their rulers and represetatives. Sassi said his party is not new to the political field, as it is considered an extension of the long history of the secret activity of the Salfist movement against Ben Ali's regime, going back to the eighties, when the party's constituent statement was released. According to the political programme issued by the party, the Reformation Front is working to establish an Islamic state in Tunisia, which will apply Sharia (Islamic law) in all aspects of life, in addition to achieving the unity of all Muslims within  the nation. The party, calls for adopting Sharia as a sole source of legislation in the new constitution, while taking ideas from modern international civilisation concepts, which don't contradicte Sharia. The law of political parties in Tunisia, doesn't allow for the founding of parties on a religious or sectarian basis. However, it is assumed that the Tunisian interior ministry, intends to support the moderate Salafist movements, against the more extremist ones. The Salafist movements, have succeeded in attracting large numbers of Tunisian youth during the last few years. These youths have held several protests and demonstrations recently, calling for the application of Sharia in Tunisia.