Tunisian President Beji Caed Essibsi announced during his speech at a ceremony commemorating National Women’s Day that a committee would be established to look into individual rights, activating those rights and to consider gender parity in all fields.
Tunisia has long been regarded as a pioneer for women’s rights in the Arab world, however despite the wide range of rights Tunisian women have in comparison to other Muslim nations this is not so with regards to inheritance.
Inheritance in Tunisia is guided by Sharia or Islamic law, where a woman’s share is equivalent to half of a mans share and where man are financially responsible for woman.
The Tunisian President explained that the law should be changed in accordance with social development.
He stressed that equality between men and women, was approved by the Tunisian constitution and should cover all areas, including inheritance. “If we think about harmony, because the constitution dictates this, we must go in this direction.”
Essebsi’s progressiveness towards achieving gender parity has been celebrated by modernists and women’s rights activists.
Main Image: Indian Express
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