Tunisian Islamic Scholar Mohamed Talbi, a Fierce Opponent of Fundamentalism

May 7, 2017 23 Culture Obituary Tunisian Islamic scholar Mohamed Talbi, a fierce opponent of fundamentalism The Arab Weekly staff Tunis ohamed Talbi, known for his staunch op- position to political Islam and religious obscurantism and as a Mprolific writer whose ideas often became the centre of controversy, has died in Tunis at the age of 95. The Tunisian Ministry of Culture called Talbi, who died May 1, “one of the pillars of intellectual activity in Tunisia” and said that he “belonged to the founding generation of the modern Tunisian university.” “For six decades, the late Mo- hamed Talbi wrote no less than 30 books, a testament to his academic career and intellectual prolificacy,” the ministry said. Throughout his career, Talbi argued that more emphasis should be put on the intended meaning of the Quranic text rather than laws and strictures that he argued were spe- cific to certain historical periods. Talbi wrote 30 books and published hundreds of articles in Arabic and French. During a 2015 conference, Talbi explained that a reader of the Quran “must pay attention to the intended meanings of the Holy Book and the aims of sharia rather than the lit- Free thinker. A file photo shows Tunisian writer and intellectual Mohamed Talbi speaking during a news conference in Tunis. (AFP) eral rulings therein.” This allows the reader to make judgments about the and imposed on them,” for the sharia was a “human production” Talbi was a fierce opponent of of the National Cultural Committee meaning of the text, he said, thereby purpose of laying the foundations and “has nothing to do” necessarily Salafist thought, referring to it as and was director of Beit al-Hikma at “[exercising] his right to understand of what Talbi termed “a religious with Islam. He argued that “religion, “anti-Islamic.” He opposed and Carthage in 2011. and interpret.” state… a state of darkness.” any religion cannot be imposed or warned against “the threat of Is- Talbi, who described himself as a Having established the right to en- Talbi said that any modernist pro- forced on people.” “I will never tire lamophobia nourished by some “Quranic Muslim”, in 2012 founded gage in free enquiry in Islam, Talbi ject in the Muslim world must begin of repeating that Islam gives us free- Christian tendencies.” In the Jeune the International Association of assailed the theories and ideas of by revising and reviewing religious dom,” he added. Afrique interview, he said: “These Quranic Muslims. Sayyid Qutb, the founder of holy thought. Muslim thinkers “must people think that Prophet Moham- Talbi wrote 30 books and pub- violence in the Islamic movement frankly face their heritage and past. Deeply religious, mad brought only bad and inhuman lished hundreds of articles in Arabic of the 20th century. Talbi argued There were errors made in our his- Talbi waged a fierce things.” and French. He received numerous that Qutb had done great damage tory and we have to expose them battle against Talbi was born in 1921 in Tunis awards, including many cultural to Islam by meshing the Quran with before moving on,” Talbi said. extremism. and studied at the well-known Sadi- and honorary honours from Tuni- a mode of thought that produced Deeply religious, Talbi waged a ki College in Tunis. He received his sia, France, Spain, Italy, Germany terrorism. By “separating faith and fierce battle against extremism and bachelor’s of arts in Arabic and stud- and Sweden. religion,” Talbi said, Qutb created what he considered antiquated Is- ied at the Sorbonne University in Among his best-known works in an intellectual crisis, leading his fol- lamic ideas for more than half a In a more recent interview with Paris, where he completed a doctor- Arabic are: “Iyal Allah” (1992), “Um- lowers into transgression. century. He exercised an innova- weekly magazine Jeune Afrique, ate in history. mat al-Wasat” (1996), “Murafa’a Talbi said Qutb “had completely tive approach, having the courage to Talbi pointed out that “the Quran Talbi is known as one of the found- min ajli Islamin Mu’asir” (1998), stripped Islam of its spiritual and question postulates and offer daring was the only [holy text] that in- ers of the modern Tunisian universi- “Al-Islam: Hurriyatun wa Hiwar” social dimensions and turned it into ideas. cludes the very clear and very secu- ty and served as the first dean of the (1999), “Kawniyat al-Quran” (2002), a politico-religious instrument, de- In an interview with French news- lar expression: There is no compul- Faculty of Letters in 1955. During “Li Yatma’inna Qalbi” (2010), and tached from people’s convictions paper Le Monde in 2006, Talbi said sion in religion.” the 1980s, he was appointed head “Al-hurriyatu dini” (2011). Looking at ‘Investigative Journalism in the Arab World’ nvestigative journalism in Although finding funding for Another problem in arab Sabbagh said she Books the Arab world needs investigative journalism is a problem media, bebawi said, is journal- noticed that students reform, especially with the everywhere it is of particular concern ists’ inability to distinguish often graduated without newfound freedoms the in the arab world. Bebawi makes the between truth-telling and knowing the difference media has secured after the case that arab media should make activist-driven writing that between investigative “Arab spring.” This is one of more of an effort to find sponsors to is based in political opinions journalism and daily Ithe main points of Saba Bebawi’s fund costly investigative projects, and emotion. This point is reporting. Her organisa- new book, “Investigative Journal- similar to what propublica does in stressed by training coaches tion invited professors to ism in the Arab World: Issues and the united states. at arij, who said arab its annual conference but Challenges.” Saad hattar, an editorial consultant journalists tend to base an learned they were resistant Dunia Bebawi’s book is based on her for arab reporters for investigative investigation on hearsay to teaching investigative El-Zobaidi experiences working for Radio journalism (arij), a non-profit organi- rather than evidence. reporting methods. Many of Jordan English, CNN and Dubai TV. sation established in 2005 to promote Access to information the professors taught in gov- When she addresses hindrances investigative journalism, said in in the arab world is also a ernment-owned institutions to such reform, it comes from the book that the arab world lacked problem, with state media and said they would be unable time spent on the front lines of sustainable journalism training for often functioning as to protect their students in the media’s battles for access to students living in the internet age, government mouthpiec- their probing as they were not information. and that current university courses es. News archives are professionals. Bebawi’s book deals with the is- were “stagnant and old.” limited and laws on free- Hattar also explained that sues and challenges facing investi- Bebawi pointed out that while dom of information are online platforms, such as social gative reporting in the Arab world large media operations such as al sometimes restricted. media, pose a threat to the gov- in great depth. She provides illu- jazeera and al arabiya have budgets However, arij executive direc- ernment since state institutions minating case studies, such as how to launch training ventures and long- tor rana sabbagh notes in bebawi’s cannot control them. This has job advertisements in Jordanian term projects, newsrooms on state book that the “arab spring” “broke Cover of Saba created a turbulent environment, State control newspapers lure women for sexual and local levels need financial aid to the wall of fear” and the media Bebawi said, with some platforms Bebawi’s book, over media is purposes, as well as the story of break from the traditional report- became polarised, either supporting sometimes being shut down an obstacle a Syrian refugee trying to regain ing cycle. She said that when young or opposing various regimes. This “Investigative overnight, making it harder to do Journalism in to Arab her daughter’s identity documents journalists receive training in inves- posed a problem for new independ- investigative reporting. from Jordanian authorities, whom tigative reporting, old-school editors ent media, which found hardly any the Arab World: investigative she accused of trying to make rarely allow them the opportunity to space to provide alternative coverage Issues and Dunia El-Zobaidi is a regular Arab journalism. money out of refugees. implement their skills. of events. Challenges.” Weekly contributor in London..

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