New marriage and inheritance laws are ensuring gender equality in Tunisia

nisaa fm:-Tunisia is pressing ahead with ambitious proposals in order to reform the country’s marriage and inheritance laws. By doing so, Tunisia overturns the decades-old ban on Muslim women marrying non-Muslim men.

Last month, it was announced that President Beji Caid Essebsi had intentions to   allow women to marry outside the Islamic faith, in order to provide women with equal rights under the country’s inheritance laws.

Currently in Tunisia, a Muslim woman is not allowed to marry a non-Muslim. Whereas men are free to marry across religions. The new proposals want this law abolished, and at the same time assure equal inheritance rights for both genders. Today under Islamic law, men typically receive double the inheritance of any woman.

In 2014 Tunisia enrolled a new constitution, which is considered one of the most progressive, in terms of gender equality, in the region. The president states that: “The state is obliged to achieve full equality between women and men and to ensure equal opportunities for all responsibilities.”

Due to the increased focus on gender equality, it is believed that the new laws concerning marriage and inheritance will further cement Tunisia’s position at the forefront of the debate on women’s rights among Islamic countries.

Shortly after the announcement of the new law proposals, Rym Mahjoub, an MP with the liberal Afet Tounes Party, said the move was “progressive and revolutionary”.

She added: “As a woman I’m proud that this issue will be discussed now... it does not mean that we do not have other social and economic problems or cancel the discussion of other important issues...[but] we can see that some women are deprived of her right in inheritance as it is stipulated in religious text.”

Amna Guellali senior researcher at the Human Rights Watch in Tunisia and Algeria  also stated that the proposal marked “The beginning of a healthy debate […]” “This isn’t just a debate that’s taking place in Tunisia, it’s happening all over the region,” she said.