In a new fatwa posted on Minbar Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad, the website of Sheikh Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi, prominent Salafi-jihadi cleric Abu Mundhir Al-Shinqiti responds to a question regarding the proper shari'a-related position of Muslims towards Tunisia's uprising.
In his response, Al-Shinqiti first welcomes the uprising and the regime change, but goes on to issue several precautions. While reaffirming the need for Muslims to disassociate themselves from the use of suicide (a reference to the December 17, 2010 self-immolation of a Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi) as a symbol of rebellion and as a way of obtaining their rights, he also warns the muwahideen (monotheists) against engaging in and joining any political party that aims to establish yet another secular regime in Tunisia. Most importantly, Al-Shinqiti asks fellow monotheists to seize the moment and work on establishing their presence in Tunisia, each according to his own capabilities, while focusing on da'wa-related work.
The recent uprising in Tunisia has generated a wide range of responses across the Arab world; overall, they welcomed the uprising but differed over its origins and causes. Also, and not surprisingly, jihadi websites presented the uprising as a form of jihad, and called for its spread to other Arab and Muslim countries....
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