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Ennahda distances itself from Salafists

With the approach of the Tunisian elections, some parties are trying to link the Ennahda party to conservative religious groups, although the Islamist party has been distancing itself from Salafists.
A supporter of the Ennahda Movement party distributes leaflets on the party's candidates for parliamentary elections, in Tunis October 22, 2014. Sunday's parliamentary vote will elect the 217-member assembly, and that will chose a new prime minister to lead the government to replace Tunisia's caretaker administration. Presidential elections will follow next month. REUTERS/Anis Mili (TUNISIA - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR4B8QR

Tunisia’s formerly ruling Ennahda movement’s main competitor in the coming parliamentary elections has sought to connect the Islamist party to ultraconservative groups that have posed a threat to the country’s democratic transition. Meanwhile, Ennahda has reduced the visibility of more pious figures associated with the movement and focused on more temporal issues such as security and the economy.

Ennahda attempted to bring in Salafist groups to the political table not long after mass protests ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. The government headed by former Minister Beji Caid el Sebsi had prevented some Salafist parties from being recognized; this was no longer the case after Ennahda headed the government.

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