Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi
Encyclopedia
Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi also spelled Mohammed al Hachimi Al-Hamidi, Hechmi Haamdi, or Hachmi Hamdi is a Tunisia
n journalist, media entrepreneur and politician, who lives in London
. He is the founder and leader of the Popular Petition
party.
Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi was born in Sidi Bouzid. He has studied Arabic language
and literature
at the Tunis University
, graduating with a B.A. in 1985. He added a masters programme in Arab literature, history and contemporary Islamic studies
at the University of London
, which he completed in 1990. From the same school he obtained his doctorate
in the field of contemporary Islamic studies in 1996. After contributing articles to different newspapers and journals, including the London-based Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat, he founded his own weekly Al-Mustakilla ("The Independent") in 1993, the quarterly magazine "The Diplomat" in 1996, Al-Mustakilla satellite TV channel in 1999, and a second TV channel, called "Democracy", in 2005.
From the early 1980s until his resignation in 1992, Hechmi Hamdi was a member of the Tunisian Islamist Ennahda Movement. Later, he was alleged, but denied, to have developed close ties to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
and his party, RCD
. In March 2011, after the Tunisian revolution
, he founded the Popular Petition for Freedom, Justice and Development
(Aridha Chaabia), which he promoted from his Al-Mustakilla TV channel and announced his candidature for the presidential elections.
An anti-corruption commission on November 11th published a letter Hechmi Hamdi wrote in December 2009 to then President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in which he offered to produce a week of programmes to highlight so-called “democratic developments” in Tunisia. He admits that his channel got a lot of advertising income from Ben Ali’s regime.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n journalist, media entrepreneur and politician, who lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He is the founder and leader of the Popular Petition
Popular Petition
The Popular Petition for Freedom, Justice and Development ), short Popular Petition, Aridha Chaabia orAl Aridha is a political party in Tunisia. It was formed after the Tunisian revolution, on 17 March 2011...
party.
Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi was born in Sidi Bouzid. He has studied Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
at the Tunis University
Tunis University
-Profile:The Tunis University has been watchful, for sixteen years, for the best use of the human and material means granted to higher education and scientific research institutions it supervises to improve their opening on the social, cultural and economic environments.With the aim of a better...
, graduating with a B.A. in 1985. He added a masters programme in Arab literature, history and contemporary Islamic studies
Islamic studies
In a Muslim context, Islamic studies can be an umbrella term for all virtually all of academia, both originally researched and as defined by the Islamization of knowledge...
at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, which he completed in 1990. From the same school he obtained his doctorate
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in the field of contemporary Islamic studies in 1996. After contributing articles to different newspapers and journals, including the London-based Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat, he founded his own weekly Al-Mustakilla ("The Independent") in 1993, the quarterly magazine "The Diplomat" in 1996, Al-Mustakilla satellite TV channel in 1999, and a second TV channel, called "Democracy", in 2005.
From the early 1980s until his resignation in 1992, Hechmi Hamdi was a member of the Tunisian Islamist Ennahda Movement. Later, he was alleged, but denied, to have developed close ties to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was...
and his party, RCD
Constitutional Democratic Rally
The Constitutional Democratic Rally , also referred to by its French acronym RCD, formerly called Neo Destour then Socialist Destourian Party, was the governing party in Tunisia. The party was suspended by the minister of interior on February 6th awaiting a decision on its dissolution by judicial...
. In March 2011, after the Tunisian revolution
Tunisian revolution
The Tunisian Revolution is an intensive campaign of civil resistance, including a series of street demonstrations taking place in Tunisia. The events began in December 2010 and led to the ousting of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011...
, he founded the Popular Petition for Freedom, Justice and Development
Popular Petition
The Popular Petition for Freedom, Justice and Development ), short Popular Petition, Aridha Chaabia orAl Aridha is a political party in Tunisia. It was formed after the Tunisian revolution, on 17 March 2011...
(Aridha Chaabia), which he promoted from his Al-Mustakilla TV channel and announced his candidature for the presidential elections.
An anti-corruption commission on November 11th published a letter Hechmi Hamdi wrote in December 2009 to then President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in which he offered to produce a week of programmes to highlight so-called “democratic developments” in Tunisia. He admits that his channel got a lot of advertising income from Ben Ali’s regime.