Laïcité, Inch'Allah!

The director Nadia El Fani, a controversial and arresting personality, focuses on the crucial issue of the separation of religion and state, not only in the Arab countries, but in western society in general. Are the Tunisian people, united by the revolution of January 2011, prepared to support and defend the creation of a democratic and secular state? Could the vibrancy of the demonstrations be extended to such questioning? By scratching the surface and shaking up common sense, El Fani, a relentless activist, moves forward in her quest: by asking those around her who respects Ramadan to the letter, she seeks to reveal what she believes to be an open secret. Even during the euphoria following the downfall of the dictatorship, she keeps her feet firmly on the ground and an open mind with regard to political and religious changes, notably the threat of rising radical Islamism. The film also highlights the importance of public debate as a tool for constructing society, just as the Greek agora.

Jasmin Basic