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Islam's Place in Politics: Is There One?

Global Questions brings together a panel of political and civil society figures, who answer tough questions about the compatibility of Islam and politics.

Zeinab Badawi is in Tunis with a panel of guests, to test the mood on whether Islam should or could be taken out of politics in Tunisia and the region. It is half a decade since the populist uprisings across the Arab world began in Tunisia. When Egypt's revolution erupted, it seemed to promise something more than a choice between Islamism and military authoritarianism - but the Muslim Brotherhood rose to power only to be overthrown by an army strongman. Meanwhile in Bahrain autocracy has grown and civil rights have been curtailed. And Syria, Libya and Yemen continue to be torn apart by civil wars that show no sign of ending. In Tunisia, there's been a significant development - the Ennahda movement, the most successful Islamist party to emerge from the revolution, has renounced political Islam, saying religious activity has to be completely separate from political activity.

50 minutes

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