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Freedom of speech bedrock for democracy: Ben Moussa
A man who was a part of the quartet that toppled Tunisia’s long-time authoritarian President, Nobel laureate Abdessattar Ben Moussa, when speaks is hardly audible. But the steely resolve comes through as he speaks about democracy and freedom.
2016 Nobel Prize winner says all religions should have equal protection in a democratic country
Hyderabad: A man who was a part of the quartet that toppled Tunisia’s long-time authoritarian President, Nobel laureate Abdessattar Ben Moussa, when speaks is hardly audible. But the steely resolve comes through as he speaks about democracy and freedom.
Speaking to The Hans India on the sidelines of the ongoing Osmania University centenary celebrations, the 2016 Nobel Prize winner said Tunisia had seen a democratic transition and was possible only through dialogues and continuous struggle for human rights.
When asked about incidences of sporadic violence in the name of cow vigilantism and moral policing in India, he said, “In Tunisia, there is a Christian and Jew minority and the new Constitution completely protects them. In a democracy, all religions should find protection.”
Tunisia was on the verge of a civil war when the Tunisian Dialogue Quartet - a conglomerate of four organisations representing different aspects of Tunisian society came together to build a pluralistic democracy. It successfully helped Tunisia establish a constitutional system.
“If democracy is to survive, freedom of speech and dialogues are essential.” He further added, “Democracy is a long process for all the essential features such as justice and equality to come to the fore.”
With unemployment, democracy cannot survive for long and unless power was decentralised there was no hope for a pluralistic society, he added. The Jasmine Revolution, as it has come to be known, triggered off after a 26-year-old vegetable vendor’s self immolation unable to bear the authority’s highhandedness. Ben Moussa said, “Under Tunisian dictatorship there was no economic guarantee and freedom of expression.”
“People can forge their own future and dialogue can be a very effective weapon. The force of people and ideas are lethal combination that can make democracy possible and that is what we could achieve in Tunisia,” remarked Moussa. It was with the quartet’s support that the people of Tunisia voted for free elections and overthrew a dictator who ruled the country for 22 years.
