President of the Tunisian Assembly of People's Representatives. Graduate, Zaitouna University; studied philosophy, Cairo, Damascus and Paris. Co-Founder and President, Ennahdha (Renaissance) Muslim Democratic Party, Tunisia, which emerged in the recent elections as the largest party in the constituent assembly. 1981, set up the Islamic Tendency movement, later changed to Ennahdha (Renaissance). 1981-84 and 1987-88, imprisoned due to political activities. 1989-2011, left for London to live in political exile. Returned to Tunisia on 30 January 2011, after the Tunisian revolution. An important figure in modern Islamic political thought and theory. Has long been an advocate of the compatibility between Islam and the principles of pluralism, freedom, modernity and democratic governance. Views and writings are influential in Tunisia, and the rest of the Arab and Muslim world.