Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi

Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi
Born Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia
Nationality Tunisian/British
Occupation Journalist,
Businessman
Political party Current of Love,
Party of Progressive Conservatives
Religion Sunni Islam

Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi (Tunisian Arabic: محمد الهاشمي الحامدي‎), also spelled Mohamed el Hachmi El-Hamdi, Hechmi Haamdi, or Hachmi Hamdi is a Tunisian journalist, media entrepreneur and politician, who lives in London. He is founder and owner of the oppositional Al Mustakillah TV channel. After the Tunisian Revolution in 2011 he founded the "Popular Petition" party later renamed to Current of Love.

Personal life

Mohamed Hechmi Hamdi was born in Sidi Bouzid. He has studied Arabic language and literature at the Tunis University, graduating with a B.A. in 1985. He added a masters programme in Arab literature and history at the University of London, which he completed in 1990. From the same school he obtained his doctorate in the field of contemporary Islamic studies in 1996 from SOAS, University of London.[1]

Career

After contributing articles to different newspapers and journals, including the London-based Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat, he founded his own weekly Al-Mustakilla ("The Independent") in 1993, the quarterly magazine "The Diplomat" in 1996, Al Mustakillah satellite TV channel in 1999, and a second TV channel, called "Democracy", in 2005.[2]

From the early 1980s until his resignation in 1992, Hechmi Hamdi was a member of the Tunisian Islamist Ennahda Movement.[3] Later, he was alleged, but denied, to have developed close ties to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali[4] and his party, RCD.[5] In March 2011, after the Tunisian revolution, he founded the Popular Petition for Freedom, Justice and Development (Aridha Chaabia), which he promoted from his Al-Mustakilla TV channel[6] and announced his candidature for the presidential elections.

On 4 February 2012 Hechmi Hamdi was elected secretary general of the Party of Progressive Conservatives (PPC), which is closely linked to the Popular Petition movement.[7] In May 2013 Hechmi Hamdi relaunched his Aridha movement under the new name of Tayar al-Mahaba, or Current of Love.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ Ajmi, Sana (25 October 2011), People’s Petition for Freedom, Justice and Development, tunisia-live.net, retrieved 25 October 2011
  2. ↑ "Mais qui est ce Hachemi Hamdi qui suscite tant de polémiques?", Leaders, 25 October 2011, retrieved 27 October 2011
  3. ↑ "Postface to an article by Hechmi Hamdi", Journal of Democracy, 1996, retrieved 27 October 2011
  4. ↑ Surprise Tunisian poll success for London-based millionaire, AFP, 25 October 2011, retrieved 28 October 2011
  5. ↑ Parker, Emily (27 October 2011), Aridha Chaabia, "Popular Petition," Shocks Tunisian Politics, Tunisia Live, retrieved 27 October 2011
  6. ↑ Surprise Tunisian poll success for London-based millionaire, AFP, 25 October 2011, retrieved 26 October 2011
  7. ↑ Ghribi, Asma (6 February 2012), "Hechmi Hamdi Elected as Head of Party of Progressive Conservatives", Tunisia-live.net, retrieved 18 February 2012
  8. ↑ "Hechmi Hamdi annonce la création du "courant d'al-Mahaba"". Gnet. 22 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Cherif, Youssef (26 February 2014), "Democracy in the Making: Tunisia braces itself for its second free general elections", The Majalla
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