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2012-08-16

Islamists criticise Olympic champions

By Monia Ghanmi for Magharebia in Tunis – 16/08/12

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Islamic extremist groups in Tunisia are criticising the nation's Olympic champions for their alleged non-observance of religious values while competing in the London Games.

The sport attire of Habiba Ghribi - the first Tunisian woman to ever earn an Olympic medal - sparked accusations of "evil and immorality".

Islamist groups attacked the 3000m steeplechase silver medallist on Facebook, with one page calling for the revocation of her Tunisian citizenship because, in the words of the extremists, she did not honour the country and harms Tunisian Muslim women.

"Tunisia has no need for the medals brought by topless uncovered women. We are all for revoking the Tunisian citizenship of one who exposed Tunisia to her evil and immorality," they wrote.

But in response to the firestorm, Constituent Assembly deputy Ibrahim Kassas, a member of the independent Al-Aridha party, said that "the underpants of Habiba Ghribi have honoured us."

"What have [Ennahda MPs'] underpants done for us?" Kassas joked during a Tuesday radio debate with Ennahda MP Farida Labidi.

In the midst of this, the Tunisian street was split between those supporting and those rejecting the appearance of Ghribi during the Olympics. Some felt the criticisms of the Islamists had their place, while others defended the freedom of women in dress and exercise.

Sofia Bouassida saw in Ghribi's dress a violation of the principles and dignity of Tunisian women and an obliteration of the nation's identity.

"It is true that dress is a personal matter, but if it pertains to representing the country in an international athletic demonstration, athletes should respect the customs of this country and the values of its religion," she commented. "So far as the Tunisian runner, she should have worn modest clothes in line with her country's identity, and I do not imagine it would keep her from winning the medal."

On the other hand, Souha Naouali contended that athletic dress remains a secondary need because it is a matter of personal freedom concerning the athlete alone in which there must be no interference in the face of the results and efforts put forth.

"The athlete should not be held accountable for the way she dresses. On the other hand, there must be demand for results. And in this Olympics, Ghribi represented the best representation of her country, and this is what is required," Naouali said.

For her part, Ghribi defended her athletic attire in a televised interview.

"The runner's sports uniform helps us run and jump," Ghribi said. "I do not think this is important and worth all this debate before the coronation which I brought while bearing the nation's flag."

Meanwhile, 2-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Oussama Mellouli was subjected to a similar campaign of criticism,

The Tunisian drank water after winning the 10km race. The incident infuriated Islamists, who considered breaking the fast in public an abuse of the holy month of Ramadan and the Islamic religion.

On Facebook, the group Ansar al-Sharia in Kairouan labelled Mellouli an "infidel heretic" for breaking the fast. "We do not need the medal, for which the Islamic nation is laughing at us," the extremists wrote.

As punishment, this Islamic militant group called for killing the Olympic gold medallist.

"You are a disgrace to Tunisia, and killing you is a Sharia duty because we do not accept humiliation," Ansar al-Sharia said.

The on-going debate only added to fears about the possibility of Islamists restricting personal freedoms.

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  1. Anonymous_thumb

    المتسامح 2012-9-16

    We know now pretty well that this radicalism in religion is just an act and its end is absurd just like its content. However, it is very dangerous. This is because Caliphate isn't possible nowadays. Insisting on it will make us keen on giving priority to the important at the expense of the most important. Our country is small and poor and needs friends. It also needs social consensus not religious where competences and talents emerge. Therefore, we have to respect each other and not refer to religion in analysing crimes against others and assaulting innocents even with words. Everyone today, (especially the poor) is facing many challenges to feed and take care of the huge hungry and confused human crowds. Focusing on religion only is a lack in religion itself. The sky doesn’t rain gold. Islam is the religion of work not absurd jihad.

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  2. Anonymous_thumb

    المسلم 2012-9-16

    Without gossip and redundant words, we must adhere to Sharia and the Qur’an. Every Muslim woman who demands her rights should first do her duties, otherwise she will be considered selfish.

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    HAMID 2012-9-15

    I am not affected by your comments, you secularists, and I am not angry at you them because you have not had an education in Islam. You are used to seeing your mothers and sisters in indecent and undignified clothing at home. And you do what you want amongst yourselves, but as for your bodies, it has nothing to do with this; it belongs to everyone.

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    DP 2012-9-14

    I am really feel sorry for all the women in the Muslim countries where animals with clothes believe they are something with no respect to human life. You better be isolated and eat each other and let the rest of the world alone.

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  5. Anonymous_thumb

    زياد 2012-9-14

    Exalted be God! God the Almighty says “Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land. [It is but] a small enjoyment; then their [final] refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.” Exalted be God, you speak with a clear Arabic language?? Review yourselves, o you who said that Islamists hate culture, science and sport! Which culture??? Ribaldry or scientific culture? Which science? Sex science or sport science? Which sport? Unveiled naked women or decent and manly sport? Islam disavows every Muslim who knows this and challenges his religion. Therefore, he is irreligious and disbeliever.

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  6. Anonymous_thumb

    toutou 2012-9-14

    The caravan passes by and dogs bark. But will dogs stop barking?

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  7. Anonymous_thumb

    wahab 2012-9-13

    In principle, these bearded men of misfortune should leave the athletes alone. These bearded men should mind their gandouras. And may they go to Hell!

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  8. Anonymous_thumb

    مسلم و أفتخر 2012-9-8

    Exalted be God! God the almighty says, “Let not the free disposal (and affluence) of the disbelievers throughout the land deceive you. A brief enjoyment; then, their ultimate abode is Hell; and worst indeed is that place for rest.” Exalted be God, you speak in clear Arab language????

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  9. Anonymous_thumb

    مغربي 2012-9-6

    You are all wrong with your comments. No to showing women’s adornments! Islam ordered woman to wear niqab and uncover only her face.

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  10. Anonymous_thumb

    OULAHSAID SAID AGADIR 2012-9-4

    Hello everyone – Sport is sport and Islam is Islam.

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  11. Anonymous_thumb

    jckiki 2012-9-2

    It is not true tat Muslims hated science and such... In the history, early Muslims were the pioneers to introduce science, astronomy, medicine etc... It's just that over time, Muslims have shifted their focus on more worldly issues, unfortunately power and possessions perhaps! If only the alignment in ideology and faith can be like before, then Muslims can once again lead with pride and faith because what they lack now is specialization in respective fields of wisdom and knowledge!

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  12. Anonymous_thumb

    abdelwahab 2012-8-27

    I thank you for this site. I support those who say that Arab traditions don’t honour us as Muslims.

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    Hamden 2012-8-26

    Fascists do not need the majority of citizens to line up behind their ideology or accept their projects; they only need them not to move.

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  14. Anonymous_thumb

    foskifo 2012-8-26

    And she is beautiful, all smiling at getting the silver, while the Russian is grimacing at getting the gold. She can just give it to her.

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  15. Anonymous_thumb

    ASSIL KSEL 2012-8-23

    Long live sport! Long live freedom! Long live Tunisian women! But yes to the representation of religion! Yes to the reign of Tunisian women while taking account of our religion! Why do you accuse all the Muslims, who defend the virtue and dignity of women, of the extremists? Why do you mix things up? I prefer a Muslim woman whose body is sacred than a naked woman with a medal. Look at her body. She has even lost the aspects and traits that characterise her femininity. God guide us.

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    moumen 2012-8-20

    Cite a single Islamist champion who won any sort of distinction. There are none! This does not interest them! They hate sports, science, culture and, above all else, art. They have mind-boggling theories about all these “vulgarities”. But, in that very subject that seems to concern them, religion, they are worthless. This is because understanding the fact of religion and playing the role of “spiritual guide” and combatant against “vice” and promoter of “virtue” supposes a high level of instruction and spirituality, but this is not at all their case. They are ignoramuses about other things and, above all, not models in their daily lives. Declarations are one thing, but actions are another! Do their people lack educated, trained, believing people, who are serene and without political calculations? Do they think for a second that they can represent a model for their people? This is delirium. The ones financing and coaching them know that there is not one chance in a 1000 that the peoples will follow such caricatures. So what is the purpose of this manoeuvre?

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    lol 2012-8-20

    These little angels are almost worth the trouble! Their “sensitivity” and their “emotionality” would make them out to be the innocent victims. This world has assaulted them and struck at them on a daily basis. Locks of hair here and ankles there – it is panic on the screens of the various media under the pretext of the Olympic Games. There are legs here and arms there. It is too much! The worst of it is that an athlete took a sip of water after an event before breaking the fast! These little angels are on the verge of a breakdown! Their nerves are breaking loose! Faith without reason and reason without faith are just perdition to the very letter.

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  18. Anonymous_thumb

    ex. affilié ... 2012-8-17

    They have a record for the length of their beards; a record for their attendance at the mosque, which has become a place of tallying up their professional advancement; a record of their ignorance, including even of the Qur’an, which they have not read; a record of their submission to Wahabi charlatanism and power at any price; and so on. The Islamists hate culture, science, sport, art and any form of beauty.

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  19. Anonymous_thumb

    Musulman fier de l'être ! 2012-8-17

    Being a proud and happy Muslim is becoming a rare thing since the Islamists have made our so very beautiful religion ridiculous. There is no one more stupid than the Dalton, said a certain saying from the funny pages. Oh well! There are those that are more stupid: the Islamists! If the Daltons turned themselves in to get the bounty put on their heads by the county sheriff, the Islamists, who themselves are the executors of the Judeo-Christian imperialist plan, which aims to destroy the Muslim people by throwing them into chaos and disorder, are sawing off the branch they are sitting on. That is the record written in the Guinness Book of World Records. The Islamists hold the record for stupidity! And they are nowhere near ready to be dethroned!!! The mould of the Daltons has been broken. On the other hand, the petrodollars are causing the cyclical emergence of new batches according to "their needs".

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  20. Anonymous_thumb

    La raison & la foi ... 2012-8-17

    Correction … Muslims, like all men, walk on two legs: their reason and their faith! They are not one-legged, by God!!! Without reason, man is demented and is irresponsible; without faith, man is wandering, is an animal and is a wolf against himself. These entire debate is slapstick comedy. It is a false debate, and the Islamists are the foot soldiers of a party that exploits religion and hinders the development of the Arab Muslim and non-Arab Muslim peoples. The voice of these militants of interest is in the service not of the people, but against them and in the pay not of the Muslims, but of the degenerate Arab monarchical regime’s domination, which themselves are submitted to the Judeo-Christian empire, These Islamists only represent their camp, which is the rear guard which is committing hara-kiri with each of their poorly coached, poorly trained, ill-intentioned media outings. They are running at their own loss, and not without causing collateral damage to our peoples. Rivers never return to their source. The Islamists’ farces will never work twice. And history, like a river, is not at all tranquil and will pursue its own course. The era of the Islamists is already over. The foot soldiers should worry about their own fates because their financiers and commanders will wash their hands off them. They already have other plans, which are just as sordid and which have no place for ignorant, venal, cruel and hateful people. They will return to square one with dividing thing up and criminality, which are their nature deep down. The people are proud of their athletes, especially the women athletes, for their sacrifices dedicated to the honour of sport, which elevates men to the top when they do not have politicians as parasites, who are only looking to make cash from any circumstance, even by using sports. …

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  21. Anonymous_thumb

    La raison & la foi ... 2012-8-17

    Muslims, like all men, walk on two legs: their reason and their faith! They are not one-legged, thank God!!! This debate is a false debate and the Islamists are the foot soldiers of a party that exploits religion and hinders the development of the Arab Muslim and non-Arab Muslim peoples. The voice of these militants of interest is in the service not of the people, but against them and in the pay not of the Muslims, but of the degenerate Arab monarchical regime’s domination, which themselves are submitted to the Judeo-Christian empire. These Islamists only represent their camp, which is the rear guard which is committing hara-kiri with each of their poorly coached, poorly trained, ill-intentioned media outings. They are running at their own loss, and not without causing collateral damage to our peoples. Rivers never return to their source. The Islamists’ farces will never work twice. And history, like a river, is not at all tranquil and will pursue its own course. The era of the Islamists is already over. The foot soldiers should worry about their own fates because their financiers and commanders will wash their hands of them. They already have other plans, which are just as sordid and which have no place for ignorant, venal, cruel and hateful people. They will return to square one with dividing thing up and criminality, which are their nature deep down. The people are proud of their athletes, especially the women athletes, for their sacrifices dedicated to the honour of sport, which elevates men to the top when they do not have politicians as parasites, who are only looking to make cash from any circumstance, even by using sports. …

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  22. Anonymous_thumb

    hamid 2012-8-17

    The state of the states of the Arab and Muslim realm are already a humiliation. The ways, customs and practices of their societies are backward and so are the Islamist, given how they are. The humiliation is made all the worse when they get riled up. This poor world clings to the Middle Ages and remains bolted down outside of humankind’s history, which is advancing! The Islamists are a disgrace to the intelligence of the peoples of this realm, which does not deserve this affliction. The Islamists are all the same, be they moderate or radical. They are a brake on all human progress. They are literally and figuratively criminals. The peoples must act for the good of all to eradicate this plague on humanity!

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