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Tunisian students to form Hezbollah

22 January 2011 22:21 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A Tunisian group, consisted of young students, says it intends to form a Hezbollah-style political party to defend the rights of the people against any possible repression, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The announcement comes days after a historic revolution ousted the country’s former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Jamil Ben Alavi, a prominent student leader, says he was optimistic about the promotion of the Islamic values among the youth in the predominantly Muslim country.

"The progressive example of Hezbollah in Lebanon can bring light and hope for the Tunisian people," Fars News Agency quoted Ben Alavi as saying.

The comments come as thousands of Tunisians have publicly organized congregational prayers over the past days.

Meanwhile, some Tunisian TV channels have resumed broadcasting the call for prayer.

Ben Ali had pursued a strict anti-Islamic agenda during his rule over the North African country.

"He (Ben Ali) was against broadcasting Adhan, holding Friday prayers in mosques during his rule," the Arabic language Al-Mofakirat Al-Islam website said in a report about religious freedom.

In an attempt to imitate Western countries, Ben Ali imposed strict laws against the Islamic dress code.

A vast majority of the country’s population is Muslims and committed to Islamic values.

Ben Ali’s 23-year of dictatorship, which was marred by repeated human rights violations and torture, ended earlier this month after weeks of street protests.