Zawaya

Iqbal Al Gharbi

Iqbal Al Gharbi is a Tunisian psychologist with a doctorate in anthropology from the Université René Descartes at the Sorbonne in France. She is the Director of the Centre for Innovation in Teaching and University Curriculum Reform at the University of Ez-Zitouna in Tunisia, and an advisor to the UN.

Opinions by this panelist

Cooperation is the solution for the states of the region against terrorism

Since the 1950s, international tourism followed a steady growth: 700 million people have traveled in the world in 2000, compared to 25 million in 1950. Globally, tourism is one of the top activities: It provides a third of service exports… more

What hinders maghreb women from participating fully in political life?

Women's participation in political life has triggered many discussions by legal officials, politicians, as well as feminist and non-feminist civil society institutions in the Maghreb, and in the Arab world in general. Positions vary from supporters of women on the… more

Towards a comprehensive and multidisciplinary vision

It is striking that US President Barack Obama visited two notable institutions: Al-Azhar, which he considered a beacon of Islamic sciences for more than a thousand years, and the University of Cairo, which he considered as a fountain of progress… more

Fatwas of istehlal: an islam against islam

The Quran stipulates explicitly the unity of the human soul and stresses the human ties that take priority over all ethnic, religious, and cultural adherences. Allah Almighty says: "O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a… more

Can maghreb expatriates living in europe reform islam?

As we all know, religion is also a culture. It structures the spacetime, allows the domestication of the world and represents a fermata, a destination for personal itineraries. It is a way for groups to recognize and build themselves. Muslims… more

Maghreb families adapt new technologies to ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, and the month of divine revelation. Every year during this period, Muslims observe a purifying fast. Believers who observe the fast during Ramadan wait for sunset to eat and celebrate the… more

Religious freedom is the foundation of modernity

The Maghreb has a rich cultural diversity, as a result of many Roman, Arabic, Ottoman and European invasions and conquests. Moreover, the Maghreb's heritage has been enriched thanks to the mobility of traders and the ease of trade in this… more

The return of maghreb suicide bombers: reason and irrationality

A phenomenon that surprises us. "Judging doesn't mean understanding, because, if we understood, we couldn't judge." André Malraux . At the beginning of this millennium, and since September 11 in particular, the new emerging images before our eyes are characterized… more

Valentine's day: a creative outlet for young people

According to the legend, Saint Valentine was a Roman priest who served under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. At the end of the second century, when the Emperor outlawed marriage so that young men don't get busy with love… more

Feminist islam: in the maghreb and abroad

The emergence of feminist Islam a few years ago has affected not only the place and rights of women in Islam, but has also influenced various forms of discrimination, the plurality of interpretation of religious texts, and the diversity of… more

A terror show

A spectacular press release: The group of al-Qaeda in North Africa and the Maghreb has threatened to carry out a bombing at a football game in the upcoming World Cup taking place in South Africa. The press release published on… more

Un women: an opportunity for maghreb women!

The establishment of "UN Women" is a historic turning point towards the coherence of the United Nations system. The General Assembly of the United Nations has created a new entity that will be in charge of strengthening institutional mechanisms to… more

A global fight

78-year old Michel Germaneau who was abducted on April 19 in northern Niger, was a retired engineer involved in humanitarian work in Niger, as part of a voluntary project to help local communities. The execution of Germaneau was announced yesterday… more

One hijab, many hijabs...

A specter is haunting both sides of the Mediterranean: the hijab, or the Islamic headscarf. Some governments forbid it, namely Turkey, Tunisia and France; whereas others tolerate it. The hijab has become a State issue. Notwithstanding polemics and controversies, it… more

Whoever dominated the past, will dominate the future....

Broadcasting Iranian blockbusters "the Messiah", "the prophet Joseph", and "Virgin Mary" on Maghreb channels, such as Nessma and Hannibal, has stirred many debates and controversies! Some believe that these historical series are "based on Shia fatwas that allow the depiction… more

The relationship between religious knowledge and women requires a gender approach

Barriers that have prevented women from issuing Fatwas stem from the prevailing perceptions and the common beliefs that have dominated our rich and complex civilization for centuries. In ancient civilizations, women enjoyed cognitive authority, namely in medicine, astronomy and divination;… more

Renewing the social contract

Morocco enjoyed a great deal of continuity throughout its history, as it inherited a long State tradition and did not succumb to the Ottoman stranglehold. Moreover, colonial authorities had preserved the traditional structures of the country and relied on traditional… more

Modernist achievements not at risk in tunisia

Our inherent human dignity fueled the revolution The Jasmine Revolution broke out when a young Tunisian man set himself ablaze in protest against a policewoman who slapped him, insulted him and seized the wheelbarrow he used to sell vegetables and… more

The ideological meltdown of al-qaeda

Al-Qaeda spared the Maghreb its spectacular actions until 2006, but the region has now become a new field for international terrorism. As a matter of fact, the GSPC officially joined Bin Laden's organization on September 11, 2006, and this new… more

Bin laden's death will only have a relative impact on the maghreb

On the one hand, Bin Laden's death won't have any impact whatsoever on the functioning of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which never had any direct ties with the central organization. Actually, AQIM is the self-proclaimed satellite of al-Qaeda in… more

Creating a new political model that's modern and ethical

The Arab countries live to the rhythm of the Arab spring. The Spring of Nations was triggered by a deep crisis occasioned by several factors, namely a structural economic crisis, the closure of public space, and excessive social and regional… more

A global strategy

Mauritania has launched a loan programme to help integrate former Salafi prisoners into the workplace following their repentance. This strategy might be effective, because a mere security-based approach is not enough to deal with the complex phenomenon of Salafism. The… more

Security is a political issue

Tuareg rebel leader Ibrahim Ag Bahanga died in a car accident in the region of Kidal, Northern Mali, on August 26, 2011. Bahanga received military training in Libyan camps that were open to the Tuaregs of the Sahel in the… more

Family, a bulwark against cyber-terrorism in the maghreb

Terrorist groups survive thanks to their ability to recruit new members; and their recruitment strategies often target teenagers directly. The internet has become an ideal tool for these groups, because teenagers often consider it a refuge and a private space… more

Sahel and maghreb populations are fighting the same evil

Representatives of 30 member States of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), a number of Sahel countries, as well as regional and international organizations, all attended a meeting on terrorism. The meeting focused on five aspects: Border security, cooperation between police… more

Combining economy and security

Terrorism is not a new threat for many African countries, but many governments have just now realized that it threatens the security and economic development of Africa as a whole, thus requiring a coordinated joint response. However, Africa lacks a… more