Prominent Tunisian intellectual: France, UAE support 'counter-revolution'

Prominent Tunisian intellectual Abu Yarub al-Marzouki on Tuesday accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and France of attempting to undermine security and stability in his country.

“They are both supporting counter-revolutionary forces,” al-Marzouki told Anadolu Agency from Istanbul.

He did not, however, provide any evidence to back up his assertions. Nor did he identify by name the forces he classified as “counter-revolutionary”.

Al-Marzouki called on Arab revolutionary movements to unite “as the forces of the counter-revolution have united against the will of the Arab people”.

Regarding recent events in Tunisia, the intellectual said: “Protests and demonstrations in Tunisia are normal. But they must remain peaceful and reject acts of sabotage.”

Tunisia: 778 arrested for protesting against austerity measures

Al-Marzouki went on to assert that Tunisia’s military “does not interfere in political life”.

If revolutionary elements in Tunisia fail to come together in the face of a united counter-revolution, then the revolution’s ideals are destined to fail,

he said.

In recent days, popular demonstrations in Tunisia appear to have waned after thousands hit the streets last week — in different parts of the country — to protest government austerity measures and rising costs of living.

According to Tunisia’s Interior Ministry, at least 700 people have been detained for clashing with police and inciting what the ministry described as “riots”.

Born in 1947, Abu Yarub al-Marzouki has published numerous books — in Arabic, French and English — on Islamic thought and civilization.