Tunisia's Ministry of Religious Affairs Unveils Procedures for Mosque Management
The Ministry of Religious Affairs in Tunisia has recently lifted the veil on the procedures governing the management of mosques in the country. In response to a written question posed by several deputies and published on the official website of the Assembly of the People's Representatives, the ministry stated that the treatment of irregularities in mosque management is carried out at two levels of intervention.
Reporting Irregularities
Alerts regarding irregularities in mosque management can come from either direct on-site monitoring by local structures or through petitions and citizen complaints that denounce shortcomings or, conversely, support certain religious officials. At the heart of this control mechanism is the local preacher, an administrative figure present in each delegation across the country. This responsible individual is tasked with overseeing the smooth operation of religious affairs in mosques within their jurisdiction. In the face of complaints or anomalies, they conduct an initial evaluation and draft an official report for the regional directorate. The latter then conducts further verifications before submitting the case to the central administration. In cases of complex situations requiring in-depth investigations, the Minister of Religious Affairs may order an administrative inquiry on the ground, entrusted to specialized teams from the General Inspection of Religious Affairs or the General Inspection of Administrative and Financial Affairs.
Handling Petitions and Complaints
Petitions and complaints submitted directly to the central order office of the ministry are handled by the Regional Affairs Bureau and institutions under its tutelage. This service ensures close coordination between regional and central actors to study the situation before submitting an arbitration report to the minister. The minister then decides on corrective measures or inspections to be carried out.
Regulation of Mosque Staff
The ministry has also reminded that the status, activity, or dismissal of mosque staff (including imams, muezzins, and maintenance personnel) remains strictly governed by Government Decree No. 1228 of December 24, 2019. As their appointment falls under a ministerial decision based on the recommendations of a candidate evaluation commission, any dismissal or end of mission for non-compliance with professional obligations must necessarily rely on factual reports transmitted by regional representatives of the ministry.
Recruitment of Muezzins
Regarding the recruitment of muezzins, the ministry stated that their ability to call the prayer in a correct and harmonious manner is rigorously tested before their integration. Once in post, they are supervised by the local preacher. The ministry emphasizes that no sanctions or dismissals are imposed arbitrarily. Disciplinary procedures in this regard are proportionate to the gravity of the offense committed, with the 2019 decree subjecting mosque staff to the same sanctions as those applicable to temporary agents of the public administration, in accordance with Law No. 112 of 1983.
