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Tunisian Cabinet Approves Controversial Gender Equality Law


Sat 24 Nov 2018 | 03:03 PM
Nawal Sayed

By: Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, Nov. 24 (SEE)- Tunisian Cabinet approved Friday law granting men and women equal inheritance rights.. The parliament has to discuss it too before putting it into force. Ennahda Movement, which possesses the parliament’s majority, opposes the law.

In August, 2017, President Beji Caid Essebsi proposed a law gender equality in inheritance. On the occasion of the Women Day, Essebsi declared that his suggested law will reinforce justice and equality in the Tunisian society.

During his meeting with the cabinet, Essebsi said, “the Tunisian constitution states that there are three key principles; citizenship, people’s will and superiority of law. In addition, the constitution acknowledges the equality of both genders in rights and duties without discrimination.”n acknowledges the equality of both genders in rights and duties without discrimination.”

           Protesters shout slogans during a march, demanding equal inheritance rights for women, in Tunis, Tunisia March 10, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir SouissiThe president formed “Inpiduality and Equality Commission” in Aug. 2017, and assigned it to draft reforming proposals to the Tunisian legislative system for the purpose of widening freedoms’ spheres.

His call came after thousands of protesters demonstrated in front of the assembly and in several Tunisian cities against the proposed bill.

A report published by the committee in June recommended legislation that enshrines inheritance equality. Other recommendations included repealing the death penalty and decriminalising homosexuality.

 Ennahda Refusal

Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda party achieved the parliamentary majority in the latest legislative election held in last May, while its secularist rival, Nidaa Tounes, came second.

The Islamist party, which has 68 MPs in the 217-member assembly, announced its rejection to the law and vowed that it will vote against any bill that proposed the imposition of secular laws in this regard.

  Pro-Ennahda Party protesters - Reuters/File Photo

“We would oppose any law that goes against the Quran and the constitution,” said the Chairman of Ennahda’s shura council Abdel Karim al-Harouni earlier in Aug.

Tunisia is a “civil state for Muslim people, committed to the constitution and the teachings of Islam”, he said following a party conference three months ago.

Political Turmoil

Nidaa Tounes’s Secretary-General Salim al-Rihani filed a lawsuit to the military judiciary against Prime Minister Youssef Chahed on charges of plotting a coup d’état against President Essebsi.

In press statements on Friday, Rihani accused Chahed, some politicians and a security official of “plotting a coup against the president.”

“I have concrete evidence of this plot,” Rihani noted.

On Nov. 6, Nidaa Tounes accused Chahed and Ennahda party of plotting to break into his party’s headquarters on Nov. 3.

[caption id="attachment_24393" align="aligncenter" width="809"]           Tunisia's Prime Minister-designate Youssef Chahed speaks during a news conference after his meeting with Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi (not pictured) in Tunis, Tunisia August 3, 2016. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi[/caption]