Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy

1. Counter Violent Extremism (CVE) Project in Tunisia:In 2022, CSID continued the implementation of a 3-year project, funded by the Foreign Ministry of Canada, to fight against violent extremism (CVE) in Tunisia by training religious leaders and religious actors on how to promote a moderate, tolerant, and non-violent interpretations of Islam and Islamic texts. The 3-year program was called hand in hand against violence and extremism and consisted of training 1,200 Imams (religious leaders) on three topics: 1) democracy, human rights, and citizenship; 2) conflict resolution methods and techniques; and 3) Communications and social media. The project was implemented in partnership with the ministry of Religious Affairs and with CSID-Tunisia, and has been very successful. The aim of this project is to strengthen the capacity of Imams and religious leaders in Tunisia to promote alternative narratives to counter-terrorism (http://en.csidtunisia.org/)

3. Youth Leaders for a Better Tomorrow:The project Young Leaders for a Better Tomorrow aims to train and build the capacity of 400 Tunisian young leaders in 10 different governorates. One year after the COUP of July 25, 2021, young Tunisians are feeling angry, disappointed, and almost hopeless. They feel that the revolution was stolen from them by the politicians, and did not deliver a better quality of life, education, or job creation for them. This high level of anger and despair is a main driver for radicalism and extremism, and also for the illegal migration into Europe via the Mediterranean sea. This project seeks to rebuild their hope and self-confidence, and their capacity to be agents for change. Our local partners in Tunisia are CSID-Tunisia and the Hague-based Human Security Consortium. httpwwwyouthleadersorgpost196html

2. Other program services:Organized 12 webinars with policymakers, political leaders, activists, and experts from Tunisia and the United States on the evolving political, economic, and social crisis in Tunisia, how the democratic forces and parties can form a united front against the coup in Tunisia, and what the US can and should do to help defend and restore democracy in Tunisia.Publications, email and internet. Published and disseminated a monthly newsletter on the status of democracy throughout the Arab world, and especially in Tunisia, published CSID E-mail Bulletin and disseminated it to approximately 45,000 people around the U.S. and the world, and 15,000 in Tunisia.Other program services include periodic webinars and other public events on Islam and Democracy, as well as on the democratic crisis in Tunisia.