Tunisians are less and less religious, especially the youngest

For many, the Tunisian revolution of 2011 made it possible to change the mentality in relation to religion.

Here, a Tunisian participates in a demonstrator marking the anniversary of the Arab Spring and against police violence, on January 30, 2021 in Tunis.

AFP - ANIS MILI

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

According to the latest Arab Barometer study, religious sentiment is declining throughout the Arab world.

Conducted among 25,000 people in ten countries of the Arab world, this survey shows that the proportion of the population presenting themselves as non-religious even exceeds 45% among 18-29 year olds in Tunisia.

This would be a consequence of the 2014 Constitution.

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With our correspondent in Tunis,

Michel Picard

The

2014 Constitution

guarantees freedom of conscience, and would have favored the emergence of

freedom

from religion.

Either a sign of democratic progress

, according to Abderrazak Sayadi, professor of comparative religion and civilization:

“ 

I see there a democratic maturity.

Young people today dare to defy the religious taboo and say

"well no, I am not religious, I do not practice", or "I am an atheist".

Moreover, we are the only Arab country to authorize an association which clearly militates for atheism.

That doesn't exist in other Muslim countries.

 "

The revolution was a catalyst for openness

, according to Healkikka.

“ 

Yes, it gave a certain freedom of expression, of opinion

 ”.

“ 

You, for example, call yourself a religious

?

 " 

No, not really, I call myself spiritual,

 " replies the student.

Even for young practitioners, the possibility of describing themselves as believers or not confirms an openness according to Aziz.

I am religious, I am a Muslim

," says the 19-year-old.

Yes it is a form of freedom because even if Tunisia is a Muslim country, everyone can believe in what they want.

 "

The arrival on the

political scene of parties

claiming to be Islam has accelerated religious disinterest, according to Abderrazak Sayadi.

I think that today the young people who believed at a certain time that religious parties were cleaner or more pious, saw them at work

: they were not that different from other parties

," he says. 'university.

This led to a real deep rejection of young people and suddenly, with regard to religious practice and religion itself.

 "

► 

See also

: Tunisia: "We are in a period of learning about democracy

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  • Tunisia

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