Saniya Ben Toumiya is a well-known Ennahda member in the National Constituent Assembly (NCA). Her comments and contributions are always mocked by users of social networking sites leading the head of her NCA bloc to ban her from issuing statements without his permission because, he says, she distorts Ennahda’s image.
Ms. Ben Toumiya, can you tell us more about yourself apart from your role as an NCA member?
Saniya Ben Toumiya is a well-known Ennahda member in the National Constituent Assembly (NCA). Her comments and contributions are always mocked by users of social networking sites leading the head of her NCA bloc to ban her from issuing statements without his permission because, he says, she distorts Ennahda’s image.
Ms. Ben Toumiya, can you tell us more about yourself apart from your role as an NCA member?
I was born on February 6, 1976 in Membla, in Monastir Governorate. I graduated from the Institute for Press and News Sciences and I have an M.A. in Islamic Studies and Islamic Principles and I completed my graduate studies in Media and Communication New Technologies in 2001. My husband is from Sidi Bouzid; he is an engineer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing (MoAF). I have three daughters. Before being elected as an NCA member, I was an administrative officer in the MoAF.
How did you join Ennahda?
I had no choice but to join Ennahada because my brother is a member of it and was a political prisoner during the rule of Borguiba and Ben Ali and thus all family members were affiliated with the movement. I wore the headscarf and joined Ennahda in 1989 when I was a high school student. Then I was forced to take off my headscarf in 1995 because I received a threat to either to take off my head scarf and continue my education or to keep it and leave school.
I was forced to take off my headscarf since the movement believes in education from birth to death, for male and female Muslims and the only way possible to do it was through applying law No. 108 of 1981, which banned veiled women from entering public and educational institutions. After the revolution, the movement returned to its overt activities and I joined them.
How did you decide to run for the NCA?
We, in Ennahda, are different from others over this issue. We do not run for elections rather we recommend people to do it. I was nominated by the Ennahda’s Monastir office most prominently, because of my family’s historical struggle, especially my brother who could not continue his education since he was imprisoned for 10 years. Thus he did not meet the needed nomination requirements and I was nominated instead as I was educated and cultured in addition to the principle of equality between men and women, which was adopted in the elections.
Why have you become the most famous NCA member?
I am not after fame and my comments in the public sessions arose from my daring mindset, especially that Ennahda was not highlighted in the media which focused, after the revolution, on the opposition to influence the public opinion. In general, my contributions were not more than the other members.
I deeply believe in freedom of expression and I whole-heartedly accept differing viewpoints. My comments are always about public issues as I believe that politicians should be involved in all fields. All my opinions are posted as videos on my Facebook page.
Since you have mentioned Facebook, your comments are often mocked by users of social networking websites, what do you think?
My comments are always taken out of context to look meaningless and trivial. Some exert efforts to distort my reputation. I am a very spontaneous person and I do not pretend. I study my comments ahead of time and read the sessions’ agenda, unlike other members who attend without even knowing what will be discussed in the public sessions.
Who, do you think, is trying to distort your reputation?
I demand that the Facebook pages which target me are disclosed. I bitterly say that I have doubts in the Islamic Movement and with some NCA members. Even in my party, there are members driven by jealousy despite the fact that most of my colleagues in Ennahda love me and I respect them.
You’ve always said that you are a journalist, where did you work?
I have worked for six months at the Farmer Newspaper, which is a weekly issued by the Farmers and Fishing Associations. I have written many articles that attracted a lot of readers. I have also written for the monthly ‘Facts Magazine,’ ‘Expert Magazine,’ ‘Dialogue Net’ and the ‘Maghribiya Network’.
Since you come from a media background, why haven’t you defended the freedom of media and journalists?
Before the revolution, I faced difficulties working as a field journalist just because I am affiliated with Ennahda. However, after the revolution, a member of a troika party was chosen to be the assistant of the Media Council Chairman despite being very far from a specialist in the press and communication field. Had I been appointed in her position, I would have more media appearances and I would have acted as a link between the council and the media but unfortunately I have not had the needed framework for defending media.
Why haven’t you defended media in any public session despite being an NCA member?
I said that the needed framework in not there but I have talked about that matter in many public sessions and defended the freedom of media and journalists in many media outlets. I was the first person to announce the birth of the Audiovisual Media Reform Commission on May 3 and I insisted on accelerating its foundation. This is documented by videos.
I have talked quite a lot about founding a new, professional and free media in Tunisia. In a nutshell, I defended media wherever I had the chance. NCA members should not be wronged as no public session was dedicated to media and the press thus I cannot talk about media in a session dedicated to discussing financial laws.
Has your affiliation with Ennahda undermined your freedom as a journalist?
No, it definitely hasn’t. You can read my articles in Al-Fajr Newspaper, which Ennahda issued after the revolution. I had the freedom to say whatever I wante. Nevertheless, I sometimes have different views from the other movement members.
How do you interpret the move of Ennahda’ head in the NCA to ban you from any media statements and appearances on the pretext that you tarnish the movement’s image?
He has every right to do so as he is the head of the Ennahda’s NCA members. The movement has its own structure and by-laws and all members should abide by them; he is keen to protect the movement’s image as my comments are taken from their contexts. The ban is not absolute and this very interview proves it.
Have any of Ennahda’s stances gone against your principles?
No, for example, all rumors that Ennahda is trying to subdue media are just unfounded claims for Ennahda is a democratic party which believes in the freedom of media and its role, even those Ennahda leaders who occasionally attack the media only represent themselves rather than the movement’s general policy.
Have you defended the rights of women?
For me, female NCA members do not only represent women but they represent all citizens. No public session was assigned to discussing women’s rights. However, I have attended the sessions of the committee, which is tasked with drafting laws on women’s rights despite not being a member of it to ensure the best possible status for women. I demanded that a session should be held to draft laws about the freedom of women to choose their clothing.
What do you mean by the freedom of women to choose their clothing?
I mean that all women should get the same rights regardless of their clothing. It has something to do with rights rather than religion. I do not want headscarves to be removed by force or, on the other hand, niqabs to be enforced on women; I want women to be free in this regard.
By the way, what do you think of making little girls wear headscarves?
I totally reject it. People should be mature before choosing what to do. I am against abusing children’s innocence.
Why haven’t you objected to considering women complementary to men in the first constitution draft?
It was a mere draft that would be later modified. In addition, we, in Ennahda, said that women and men complete each other in the family, in the sense that they are equal partners and women are not inferior to men, which is at the center of our religion and morals. If we were to give women full freedom, they may commit immoral acts like marrying other women.
What do you think of the women’s activist group Femen?
Every individual has the right to express themselves but Femen’s way of expression and protest goes against our religion, morals and traditions.
A photo of you at a meeting of the Rallying Party (Ben Ali’s former party) was circulated. Were you a member of that party, which oppressed your movement and persecuted its supporters?
I can say that it is fabricated and a trick but the photo is real. It, however, should be put in its context. I was covering some national occasions as a part of my work at the ‘Farmers Newspaper’ and I used to be tasked with covering some of Ben Ali’s party seminars. I defy people to find any articles in which I praised Ben Ali and his party. After that, I was chosen to join the Rallying Party and attend political meetings but I refused and consequently was sacked from the newspaper.
What do you think of the revolutionary protection law (political exclusion)?
I am personally against collective punishment and I think that only those who committed crimes against the Tunisian people should be punished through just and fair trials. But when it comes to voting in the NCA, I am bound to accept my bloc’s decision.
