Article 1 of Tunisia’s former constitution, adopted in 1959 states that “Islam is the state religion”. Practically speaking, however, and during the regimes of Habib Bourguiba, and Zeine El Abidin Ben Ali, Tunisia was considered as the most secular state in the Arab region. Bourguiba, and his successor Ben Ali (now deposed) were criticized for adopting a French like secularism, which imposed restrictions not only on political Islamist parties and leaders, but also on religious freedom.
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