By Khaled Jabbar
TUNIS, Aug 22 (KUNA) -- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi's call for an inheritance equality between men and women had triggered controversy among political, social and religious circles inside Tunisia and abroad.
Essebsi, in a speech marking the national Women's Day on August 13, said it was time to amend an inheritance law to pave way for equality between males and females "because the equality is confirmed by the religion and constitution." Essebsi called for "finding the appropriate formula, which does not contradict with religion nor constitution and its principles, which will eventually lead to complete equality." Feminists welcomed Essebsi's call, considering it "a courageous progressive step," while others saw it a "deviation from Islam." Sheikhs and Islamic teachings' professors rejected Essebsi's call, which also included a revision of a November 5, 1973 ban on marriage between a non-Muslim foreigner and a Tunisian woman.
They urged the President to reverse his call, which they considered "violating Sharia and contradicts with the First Chapter of the Tunisian constitution," which states that Islam was the official religion of Tunisia.
Othman Battikh, the Grand Mufti of Tunisia, welcomed Essebsi's call for inheritance equality and marriage to a foreigner. Muhsen Marzouk, head of "Tunisia Project" party, also commended the call.
Al-Nahdha movement, Tunisia's main Islamist party, did not react to the president's call yet.
Al-Azhar University, Egypt's prestigious religious institute, commented by saying that calls for equality were "unjust and unfair for woman, and contravene with Sharia laws." Abbas Shuman, Al-Azhar Undersecretary, said inheritance "does not change with the change of place or time, and it was among the few issues mentioned in details in the Holy Quran". (end) ksj.bs