Ziad al-Doulatli
Encyclopedia
Ziad al-Doulatli is a Tunisian activist affiliated with the Islamist Ennahda Movement, for which he currently acts as an executive.
from the University of Rennes
in France
in 1984. While there he was also head of the Union of Muslim Students.
He was arrested in 1981 for his affiliation with the Islamic Action party, now the Ennahda Movement, then immediately released. In 1987 he was sentenced to twenty years in prison, but was released after only eleven months following the ascension of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
to the presidency in November 1987. In 1991 he was sentenced to fifteen years in prison, of which he served fourteen years. He was the editor-in-chief for the publication al-Fajr
which was later banned by the Tunisian government and whose staff were imprisoned. Between March and July 2010, Ziad al-Doulatli was placed under periodic house arrest and close police surveillance. In March 2010 the Tunisian police forces were ordered to place Ziad al-Doulatli under house arrest in order to keep him from visiting with human rights activist Zahir Makhlouf after his release from prison. In June 2010 he even threatened to go on hunger strike if the police did not let up "the constraints that they had placed on him."
in Tunisian society. In 2006 he called for the Tunisian government to "review its policy" in relation to women wearing the veil and to "treat the Tunisian veiled woman as a citizen who has the full right to choose the hijab and exercise her right in education and work environments without harassment and discrimination."
, the president of the Higher Political Reform Commission
of Tunisia, for his "secular leanings and resentment towards religion." He strongly supports Rashid Al-Ghannouchi, one of the leading founders of the Tunisian Nahda Party, and organized a welcome for him for his return to Tunisia on January 30, 2011. He is currently involved in seeking to legalise the Nahda as a political party in Tunisia.
Background
Ziad al-Doulati obtained his doctorate degree in pharmacologyPharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
from the University of Rennes
University of Rennes
The University of Rennes was a French university located in the city of Rennes. It was established by the union of the 3 faculties of the city in 1885. In 1969, it was divided in two new universities:* the University of Rennes 1...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1984. While there he was also head of the Union of Muslim Students.
He was arrested in 1981 for his affiliation with the Islamic Action party, now the Ennahda Movement, then immediately released. In 1987 he was sentenced to twenty years in prison, but was released after only eleven months following the ascension of 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...
to the presidency in November 1987. In 1991 he was sentenced to fifteen years in prison, of which he served fourteen years. He was the editor-in-chief for the publication al-Fajr
Al-Fajr
Al-Fajr may refer to:*Al-Fajr , the 89th sura of the Qur'an*Fajr, the first of the five salat prayers*Al-Fajr , the now-defunct newspaper of the banned Tunisian Islamist opposition movement Al-Nahda...
which was later banned by the Tunisian government and whose staff were imprisoned. Between March and July 2010, Ziad al-Doulatli was placed under periodic house arrest and close police surveillance. In March 2010 the Tunisian police forces were ordered to place Ziad al-Doulatli under house arrest in order to keep him from visiting with human rights activist Zahir Makhlouf after his release from prison. In June 2010 he even threatened to go on hunger strike if the police did not let up "the constraints that they had placed on him."
Ideas
Ziad al-Doulatli has long been an opponent of the Ben Ali regime and a proponent of democratic reform in Tunisia. He has repeatedly stated his opposition to armed struggle as a means of bringing about change. He has long advocated the equal rights and treatment of women who wear the hijabHijab
The word "hijab" or "'" refers to both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general....
in Tunisian society. In 2006 he called for the Tunisian government to "review its policy" in relation to women wearing the veil and to "treat the Tunisian veiled woman as a citizen who has the full right to choose the hijab and exercise her right in education and work environments without harassment and discrimination."
Role in Post-Ben Ali Tunisia
Doulatli has criticized the transitional Tunisian government for continuing to "act with the mentality of the bygone era." He has also criticized Yadh Ben AchourYadh Ben Achour
Yadh Ben Achour is a Tunisian lawyer and an expert on public law and Islamic political theory. He is the son of the late Mohamed Fadhel Ben Achour, a prominent Tunisian theologian and union activist...
, the president of the Higher Political Reform Commission
Higher Political Reform Commission
The Higher Political Reform Commission of Tunisia was formed on January 17, 2011 by Mohamed Ghannouchi, the Prime Minister of Tunisia. Its president is Yadh Ben Achour, legal expert and son of the late Grand Mufti of Tunisia Mohamed Fadhel Ben Achour...
of Tunisia, for his "secular leanings and resentment towards religion." He strongly supports Rashid Al-Ghannouchi, one of the leading founders of the Tunisian Nahda Party, and organized a welcome for him for his return to Tunisia on January 30, 2011. He is currently involved in seeking to legalise the Nahda as a political party in Tunisia.