Tunisia's Mosque Crisis - 2011-2015

Unveil the complexities surrounding the term "radical imam" in post-revolutionary Tunisia through a meticulous examination of the state's rhetorical strategy. Following the upheaval of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, a wave of expulsions targeted state-appointed imams accused of complicity with the former regime. In their place emerged a new generation of preachers challenging the state's control over religious life, triggering what became known as "the crisis of the mosques."
This thesis delves into the state's response to this crisis, exploring how it sought to restore control by disciplining or removing the newly installed imams labeled as "radicals" and "extremists." The central inquiry revolves around understanding the criteria for labeling, whether based on beliefs, rhetoric, or the unconventional means of taking office.