Women attend a march held by the movement "Manich Msameh" ("I don't forgive" in Arabic) on Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis on May 13, 2017, to protest against the economic reconciliation bill put forward by Tunisia's president Beji Caid Essebsi. Chedly Ben Ibrahim/SIPA USA/Press Association Images. All rights reserved.Tunisia is once again lauded for its progress in human rights. President Beji Caid Essebsi recently scrapped a 44-year old bill prohibiting marriage between Muslim women and non-Muslim men. Despite such a progressive move, many in Tunisia still feel that their country faces issues that threaten democracy and equality.
Tunisia is considered the most progressive country in the region. Human rights commentators, while recognising issues within the country, still view it to be a model Arab nation for women’s rights and equality. Tunisia’s first president since independence, Habib Bourguiba, strove to promote liberal and secular values enabling women to have prominent positions in society.
Now women will be freer to choose their partners. Such marriages did take place, in limited amounts, but men were forced to undergo illegitimate conversions, just to show the authorities “proof” they had converted.
