Tunisia approves gender equality in inheritance

The Tunisian cabinet on Friday approved the law on gender equality in inheritance, under the guidance of President Beji Caid Essebsi, noting that the parliament will discuss it to become effective, Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) reported. The draft bill, suggested by Essebsi last August has sparked wide controversy in the North African country and outside, as it sought to make equality the general rule. It basically guarantees a freedom of choice of either following the constitution or the sharia Islamic law through a contract at the notary. The official spokesperson for the presidency, Saeeda Qarrash, explained that the initiative upholds the struggles of generations and activists for Tunisian women’s social and economic rights, as well as, promotes the gender equality mindset. “We have maintained the same principle, which is the relevance of proposals to the constitution to the end of enforcing equality in inheritance, legally, while leaving a margin of freedom for the heir should he decide to divide the legacy according to the current system,” Qarrash added. (Al Hayat, November, 25, 2018)

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