The understanding of religion in Arab Constitutions : Maghreb, Middle East

Les conceptions juridiques sur lesquelles repose l’Etat de droit au sein de cette aire géographique influent sur la détermination de la protection juridique des libertés fondamentales de l’Homme mais également sur la structure et l’organisation de l’Etat. Même si ce dernier se prévaut de sa vocation à garantir les droits fondamentaux, il semble échouer dans sa missions de protéger les libertés individuelles, en particulier celle relative à la liberté de religion. En outre, le religieux dispose d’une place telle que le jeu institutionnel s’en trouve entravé. L’accent est ensuite mis sur deux tendances contradictoires : la sécularisation progressive du droit à travers le renforcement du rôle de la justice constitutionnelle et l’éveil de la société civile d’une part, et les raisons de la persistance de la dialogie Constitution-Religion d’autre part. Aujourd'hui, à l’heure des « Printemps arabes », ces deux référents se présentent comme une dialogie nécessaire ou évidente. Les Révolutions n’ont pas abouti à la consécration d’un modèle laïc et la place du religieux se trouve maintenue, voire renforcée.The dispute in the Arab world on the relationship between constitutional rights and freedom of religion has become increasingly passionate and virulent. Moreover, the relationship between these two positions is simultaneously a source of unification and conflict. To understand the logic of basing constitutionalisation on religious beliefs, this analysis seeks, firstly, to examine the Islamic judicial system, the objective being to substantiate the existence of Islamic constitutional theory; and to demonstrate the uncertainties that flow from its use in most Arab constitutional systems. The respective judicial concepts of each Arab state have a direct impact on both the protection of the fundamental human liberties and the structure and organisation of states. To the degree that governments propagate the concept of the rule of law, they appear to fail in fostering individual liberties, especially freedom of religion. Additionally, the scope given to the religious person at the core of constitutional texts in such that the very institution of fundamental liberties is hampered. Secondly, it is important to state the reasons for the uncertainties in Arab constitutional systems and their resulting impact. Emphasis is, therefore, given to two contradictory movements: on the one hand the progressive secularisation of law in reinforcing constitutional justice and the awakening of civil society; and on the other the persistent ambiguity on the relationship between constitutional rights and freedom of religion. Ultimately these developments lay the foundation to understanding the current judicial and political environment. At the time of the Arab Spring these two positions, constitution and religion, form the basis of a necessary and obvious dialogue: these uprisings have not led to the consecration of secular states, and the scope of the religious person has been maintained and perhaps even strengthened