Tunisian president calls for gender equality in inheritance law
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi’s proposal on National Women’s Day to amend the inheritance law so as to secure equal rights for women sparked much controversy in Tunisia.
In his speech on National Women’s Day Aug. 13 in Tunisia, President Beji Caid Essebsi called for legal amendments to the inheritance law to ensure equal rights for men and women, and he called for Tunisian women to be able to marry non-Muslims, which he believes is not in direct conflict with Sharia or the Tunisian constitution.
The president’s statements sparked widespread controversy among conservative and liberal forces in the country.
