Celh Meeah : “The Front de Solidarité Mauricienne has nothing to do with Hizbullah”

jeudi 24 mai 2012

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Celh Meeah : “The Front de Solidarité Mauricienne has nothing to do with Hizbullah”

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Touria Prayag | 14/05/2010

It was a confident, happy and disconcertingly moderate Celh Meeah who answered our questions after his election to the Legislative Assembly. He does not shy away from expressing his views on a wide range of issues from politics to polygamy. Read on…

■ Mr. Meeah, some journalists called your victory the ‘Celh Meeah surprise’. Was it such a big surprise to you?

Not at all. As a social worker who has been committed to helping those who are at the bottom of the ladder for the last twenty years both in my constituency and throughout the island, I do not see my election as a surprise but rather as the outcome of patience, hard work and perseverance.

■ Did you really, honestly, expect to win?

Well, look at the progression of events. The press hushed it up but it was a reality. In 1991, when I stood for election for the first time, I won 4611 votes. For the by election in 1992, 4200.In 1995, 4400. In the 1995 Municipal Elections, I managed to shake the whole foundation of the MMM by being elected.In 2000, I got 4780 votes. In 2001, I was elected in the municipal elections from inside prison! Every move so far has been historic. At the next general election, it will be 3-0 in my favour. I promise you that.

■ You mentioned your election while you were in jail. What memories have you kept of your incarceration?

Injustice and police brutality. It is an issue I will take up at a later date.

■ Coming back to your electoral manifesto, is it based on Muslim guidelines?

There is nothing Islamic about the programme. I am going to introduce in government. Nothing even spiritual. It is a national programme offering ways to deal with the eradication of poverty, drug trafficking, injustice, immorality etc. We would like to introduce Islamic banking to help small and medium enterprises (SME). We will provide the guidance and follow-up necessary.

■ But surely, Hisbullah’s programme is based on religion, isn’t it?

The Front de Solidarité Mauricienne (FSM) has nothing to do with Hizbullah. We would like to introduce a new concept of governance in Mauritius.

■ So which community does your electorate come from?

From ALL communities. We have been voted in by all communities. We have an office in Roche-Bois which has been handling people’s grievances and helping them out of their misery. These people have shown their gratitude.

■ Are you saying that the positions you take in the Legislative Assembly will not be coloured by your religious views?

Secularism as practiced in Mauritius in no way interferes with Islam or its five pillars. My aim is to represent all Mauritians irrespective of their religion, creed or colour.

■ But if there were a debate tomorrow about polygamy or wearing the veil, would you express Islamic views or secular views?

I may express Islamic views, depending on the subject.

■ Allowing polygamy?

No. Polygamy is discouraged by Islam and allowed only under very specific conditions, which no longer prevail. If there were a war in Mauritius tomorrow and half the men died, it would be legitimate for those who survived to marry more than one wife under the almost impossible conditions prescribed by Islam, that is treating wives in exactly the same way, with the same fairness. Something which human beings cannot do.

■ So, until there is a war in Mauritius, will your position be against polygamy?

Yes. Religion has to take into consideration the realities of the county.

■ You were not in the country when the Azaan episode wreaked so much havoc. What would your position have been then ?

I would have discouraged protests and encouraged acting within the legal parameters. I always favour reconciliation over conflict. Islam has always been practiced within the realities of the countries it is practiced in. We have to live within the polico-legal parameters of the country and take into account the fact that we are a minority.

■ Does that also apply to the wearing of the veil?

In Islam, covering the face is not an obligation. Chapter 33, verse 59 of the Koran clearly talks about wearing ‘a long outfit’ to cover the body. There is no mention of covering the face. It is a question of choice not one of religion.

■ Are you going to remain totally independent or you will join one of the two blocs?

I am determined to remain free and independent and try to live up to the trust placed in me. I will make sure the whole of Mauritius benefits from my position in parliament. If I joined one of the two blocs, I would have my hands and legs tied. I will never do that. I would like to develop a new vision in parliament and introduce debates which reflect the challenges we face in the third millennium. Everybody knows I am a symbol. I will be contributing to the opening of a new democratic space. I will also help the country through negotiating preferential terms for petrol and petrol products with Arab countries.

■ You mean you think you have enough weight to negotiate directly with Arab countries?

You will be surprised to hear that of the 49 countries represented at the Islamic Conference taking place as we speak, only four have not yet sent me their congratulations. The other countries all have.

■ The image we remember of your T.V. campaign is your apologizing to the electorate. What did you feel you had to apologize for?

Two principles which Prophet Mohamed recommends: humility and simplicity. Apologizing is my way of showing both. I needed the electorate’s blessing to be able to take up the responsibilities awaiting me.

■ Was it not a tactical move to win sympathy?

I needed no sympathy. I had no doubt I was heading straight for victory. And God proved me right.

■ In a hypothetical situation where you absolutely had to join one of the two blocs, which one would you choose?

(Laughs) I would not take my constituents to the Opposition. But I don’t have to make that choice.

■ What are your impressions of Parti Malin?

In difficult times, when there are serious challenges, one must be serious.

Interview by Touria PRAYAG

Commentaires

Par:-observateur

Monsieur meeah against polygamy ek kouman li explik le fait ki line fair nikah a plusieurs reprises? Hizbullah ena mem leader ek mem façon agir ki FSM... alor ki difference apart nom la?

Par:-razia

pour moi le FSM c'est finalement le hizbullah...how can it not b same?? it's still the same leader, using the same strategy..u muslims r being neglected , vote me n i'll represent u... n then there's also the other part where it's said vote for only a muslims, else u r not in the path of god...that's for me is not sincerity... to call other kufr coz they have other ideals... to input in young muslims' head that they r better than others n to vote only for muslims..that's playing 2 kind of games and that hypocrisy... bye cehl as your followers call u, please let us leave in peace in this country... we already have so many problems coz of VOh and other communal groups, just don't add on it... IBL rebranded its shop to 361... the shops r still in same location, with same products n employees..same if hizbullah rebranded itself to FSM it does not mean it changed. so plz do not take our intellect to be so low... n plz talk sense...don't come up with so many nonsense issues to be raised in parliament that Mauritians will start thinking that you are stupid... we do not need that u put forward ideas which r stupid but will only make those who do not understand anything about salary, about real charity and real Islam happy...

Par:-supermomo

Il me semble que des que quelqu’un pratiquant l’Islam ose venir critiquer le systeme en place, a Maurice comme ailleurs, on fait automatiquement le lien avec le terrorisme. Pourquoi??? Tous les mauriciens non-musulmans ont des voisin(e)s, collegues, ami(e)s musulman(e)s. Est que vous voyez quelquechose en ces gens qui vous fait peur. La communaute musulmane a Maurice a toujours vecu en paix et en harmonie avec les autres communautes. Il est temps d’aller derriere les voiles du pouvoir et chercher a comprendre l’utilisation du mot terroriste. Ce qui est qualifie d’acte terroriste peut etre un fight for freedom pour un peuple. Il ne faut pas se laisser leurrer par la couverture mediatique occidentale qui a tendance a qualifier de terroriste tous ceux qui ne se conforment pas a son ideologie dominante. Il y a toujours deux faces a une piece. Il est grand temps de prendre conscience que l’on est quotidiennement manipule par les medias, a tel point que cela a effectivement abouti a une lobotomisation. Autant que je sache Cehl Meeah n’a jamais annonce vouloir instaurer une Republique Islamique de Maurice. Vouloir venir temperer, moderer les derives materialistes de notre societe capitaliste est fort louable. Les religions contiennent des principes universels qui se rejoignent. Il nous faut aller chercher a comprendre ce que sont ces principes avant de venir les critiquer, qu’ils soient islamiques ou pas. Exemple: Savez vous a quel point bon nombre de familles mauriciennes se retrouvent encore plus dans la misere a cause des jeux du hasard? Savez vous combien empoche le gouvernement grace a ces jeux? Les jeux du hasard ne peuvent en aucune facon apporter quelquechose de positif a un pays. A ceux qui qualifient Cehl Meeah de terroriste je dis ceci: Descendez sur le terrain. Allez a la rencontre de lhomme. Voyez un peu le travail qu’il fait. Croyez vous qu’il naide que les musulmans?? Allez donc voir a Roche Bois. Il est beaucoup trop facile de critiquer sans savoir. Cehl Meeah comme le Pere Gregoire est motive par des considerations non-materielles. Ceux sont des gens comme cela qu’il nous faut afin que les sans-voix se fassent entendre. Il faudrait qu’un jour le Pere Gregoire aussi entre dans larene politique.

Par:-isruth

first of all many thanks to all who vote for cehl. he is the only one by Allah's help who will prove his loyalty to all citizens of mauritius whatever religion he follows. May the Almighty Allah guide and help him.

Par:-Nokheer

Pourquoi condamner Meeha de ne pas se reconnaître dans l'ancien Hizbullah? Il n'y a que les cons qui ne changent pas et lui a l'air d'avoir considérablement évolué. C'est peut-être là son secret, tout simplement. Finalement, une seule chose seulement me choque encore : comment peut-on parler au nom du créateur ? Comment avoir la prétention de penser que ce que nous allons dire est le fruit du divin ? La formule en français n'est sans doute pas bien traduite car l'idée serait plutôt : Puisse le créateur m'inspirer ou inspirer mes propos... ce qui est tout à fait différent comme prétention. A méditer! Encore un effort Celh et tu finiras par devenir un vrai démocrate! Après pas mal de tribulations quand même! Mais tu ne t'es pas perdu... c'est l'essentiel!

Par:-dilloo

inchallah allah will always protect you

Par:-Fouzia SAMEL

Au nom de quel principe coranique, Chel Meah a pu abolir le Hizbullah. Lui-même avait présenté son précédent parti, le Hizbullah (parti de Dieu), comme un véritable parti de Dieu. Comment peut-il aller donc contre le commandement divin? Ou alors on doit conclure, que son précédent parti n'avait rien de divin! L'explication se trouve là...Bravo l'arnaque!

Par:-Aboo

yes, nothing to do with Hizbullah, except they have the same leader with the same mind and vision !!!!!

Par:-Nazim

"There is nothing Islamic about the programme.". Scroll down and "We would like to introduce Islamic banking ..." Clearly his intentions are not religious!!! How many times does he mention he is guided by god. Why is he not upfront and tell the population that he represents the muslims and in the end his goal is to make this country an islamic republic. That he got elected in the first place is really troubling. Mauritius is the first country where the muslims are a minority to elect a known supporter of terrorists. But what the heck, there is nothing wrong with that according to his electorate. That is very scary for the future and this is just the beginning of more racial tensions in this country. For those who believe in Cehl Meeah and you know who you are, well don't get your dreams and hope too high because it won't happen. Read my lips: Sharia will not happen in Mauritius. If it does, there will be a jihad against it!! Jihad as in its true meaning: the internal struggle.

Par:-pirabaha

Extremement interessant!Maybe Touria asked the right questions, or Meeah had the right answers, but FSM might become an even stronger regional party if it keeps the moderate line espoused in this interview.

Par:-supermomo

Cehl Meeah appears as the last hope for all of us who no longer have faith in the political system. I hope he will be up to standards. And he should be conscious that whatever move he makes will reflect on the perception people have of Islam. But my greatest fear is that I ask myself if Cehl really understands the way Parliament works...It is the Government which controls the Parliamentary Agenda and the experience may prove very frustrating to him....it seems that he thinks Parliament is an open floor for debate, that the fact that he is in Parliament he will be able to move things. This is what most people think but in reality things are very different. I hope Raouf briefed him on that. I think that his greatest chance to make things move is more by betting on the media and being ingeneous like wearing a T -Shirt for examle with HELP ROCHE BOIS on it while in Parliament. He should make his actions visible through the Press. Lastly for those who dont know....It is only the Govt who brings Laws to the vote....No MP on his own can or will be allowed to do that. Ban la pou touffe ou dan Parlement bhai Cehl... Mais mo confiant ki ou pou trouve ban lezot moyens pou faire ou la voix entende, pou faire ou message passer. May God help you and please remain sincere to your oaths.