Tunisian cabinet approves controversial gender equality in inheritance law

The Tunisian cabinet has approved on Friday the law of gender equality in inheritance, to be discussed in the parliament dominated by Ennahda Movement before being effective in the country.

The Tunisian president, Beji Caid Essebsi, had suggested the law in August 2017, on the occasion of national women’s day.

The controversial law entitles women and men an equal inheritance, disagreeing with the Qura’anic verse stating that males should inherit what two females should.

The law will also ensure freedom of choice between following the constitution or the Sharia Islamic law.

Supervising the Tunisian cabinet, Essebsi said that he based his legislative initiative on the Tunisian constitution which states that “Tunisia is a civil country that is based on three elements: Citizenship, the will of the people, and the supremacy of law.”

He also said that the constitution states that “the rights and duties of Tunisian men and women are equal, and that the state is committed to defending women’s rights and works on supporting and developing them.”

The Tunisian president had formed the Individual Freedoms and Equality Committee in August 2017, and assigned it to propose reforms for the Tunisian legislative system, aiming to expand freedoms in the state.