Qaradawi hails Tunisian revolution, says Islamic nations must support it

 
From Jihad Watch:

"Unstable Tunisia troubles Arab world, between Islam and democracy," from Asia News, January 19 (thanks to C. Cantoni):

Doha (AsiaNews) - There seems to be no end to the protests in Tunis and other parts of the country, as the national unity government crumbles after the flight of the dictator Ben Ali. Meanwhile, because of the poverty that is gripping the Arab world, more and more people are setting themselves on fire (up to 14), while Islamic fundamentalism tries to ride the wave of protests. [...] 

Pending future elections in mid-July, the Islamist Ennahda movement ("Renaissance"), haunted by Ben Ali, announced its intention to apply for legalization to allow it participate in elections. Dismantled after the '91 elections, where it won 17% of the votes, Ennahda claims to represent moderate and reformist Islam, along the lines of the Turkish AKP. At the same time, Moncef Marzouki, historic leader of the opposition to Ben Ali, has returned to Tunisia and announced his intention to run for president. Marzouki is president of the Congress Party for the republic, and has worked in the field of human rights and was arrested several times during the dictatorship. His party was banned in 2001 and in 2002 he fled to France. [...]

While the Tunisians are seeking to emerge from the confusion and misery - the fall of the regime has led to 78 deaths, 94 injuries and damages to 2 billion dollars - an ideological conflict rages in the Middle East, over its future and the future of the Arab world. Last Friday, the radical sheikh al-Qaradawi of Qatar proclaimed that "the revolution in Tunisia is a popular revolution against injustice" and that Islamic nations must support it. "The people - he added - must rise up and demand their rights" and called "before God, all Islamic leaders, except those who show mercy."
Some see Qaradawi's address as an attempt to ride the wave [sic] Tunisia's revolt - popular and secular - gearing it towards fundamentalism.

From the pages of the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, editor Tariq Alhomayed has replied: "What is this leadership model which al-Qaradawi wants the Tunisians to adopt? Is it the Islamic regime in Sudan, which has left us with a divided and separated Arab country? Or does he want a system similar to the Emirate of Hamas in Gaza, which sits perched upon the Palestinians, like an occupying force? Does al-Qaradawi want a state based on a certain principle, whereby what is prohibited is the foundation, and what is permitted is the exception?"....