The Grand Mufti of Tunisia, Othman Batikh, raised widespread criticism against him, amounting to a demand for his resignation from his position, after he called on businessmen and what he described as philanthropists to donate to the state to help it out of its financial and economic crisis.
And in a precedent that is the first of its kind, the Fatwa Court of the Republic of Tunisia published on its official Facebook account on Thursday, a statement saying that “helping the country out of the difficult economic and social conditions it is going through is a moral and religious duty, and engaging in saving the country is one of the most important duties, and in Coherence, solidarity and solidarity are the strengths, pride and dignity.”
In the face of widespread criticism of the Mufti, the Ifta Department was forced to delete the statement from its official Facebook page.
Critics considered that it was more appropriate for Mufti Othman Batikh to call on the state to reduce its expenditures, pointing to the great privileges obtained by thousands of officials and senior officials.
Others accused the Mufti of interfering with religious affairs in the political conflicts taking place in the country, and of publishing this “fatwa” to serve the current authority represented by President Qais Saeed and his government.
Kawthar Batikh, the mufti’s nephew, posted a post on her Facebook page in which she called on her uncle to resign and not to involve himself in political conflicts, and not to be subjected to popular anger.
She said that President Saeed should go out to the people and inform them of the state’s bankruptcy, as she put it.
Tunisia is facing a financial and economic crisis that aggravated after the measures announced by the Tunisian president on July 25, which included the freezing of parliament and the dissolution of the government, which was accompanied by subsequent decisions according to which he seized the executive and legislative powers, which his opponents considered a coup against the constitution and the revolution.
Recently, the Tunisian government approved the 2022 budget with a deficit of 6.7%, with expectations of the need to borrow about 4.4 billion dollars.
German loan
On the other hand, German Ambassador to Tunisia Peter Bruegel confirmed Friday that his country will disburse in the coming days a promotional loan worth 100 million euros to Tunisia to help it implement reforms in the banking and financial sector.
Bruegel said in a statement published by the German embassy in Tunisia following his meeting with Tunisian Finance Minister Sihem Boughdira Namsieh that it was agreed in 2020 on this promotional loan from the German Development Bank.
He added that disbursing this loan confirms Germany’s support for Tunisia, especially in difficult times.
The German ambassador also said that the decision to pay was taken on the basis of confidence that the road map prepared by Tunisian President Kais Saied will pave the way for a return to the constitutional order and the restoration of democratic gains in the country.
Saeed had earlier announced a timetable for constitutional reforms, including organizing a referendum by July 25 this year, and early legislative elections on December 17 of the same year.
Source : Websites + Social Media + Anadolu Agency
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