Tunisian women demand rights

Tunisian activist Amina Munif, head of the ‘Kolena Tunis’ movement (We are all Tunisia), said in an interview with Arabstoday that “the Tunisian woman is capable of defending her rights approved by the Code of Personal Status, as she has participating in the decision-making process for more than 50 years." She added: “This has been proven more than once, particularly in the protest held on March 8 on the occasion of International Women’s Day before the National Constituent Council demanding it protect womens' rights in the new constitution.” “Women represent half of the Tunisian society...they have the same rights and duties as men," she explained. Munif said “the libertarian culture of Tunisian women affirms that they will never give up their rights". She condemned what she called the "double standards" of certain political parties, particularly the ruling one, saying: “This poses a serious threat to women's rights. Before the elections we used to listen to moderate and balanced discourses that promote the freedom of women, and maintaining a civilised Tunisian society. However, since assuming power the political discourse has turned 180 degrees, and we started to observe serious attempts to avoid these points. This is extremism visible through religious speeches that started to target women, representing a threat to women as part of society.” Munif also called for the ruling factions (Ennahda, CPR and Ettakatol) to “disclose their official positions on the main issues”. She said: “Today we are in a consitutional stage and there is some ambiguity in the positions of some parties regarding many issues, therefore if the discussion on the constitution did not include a consensus, this will lead us to lose some of our rights." On her opinion of adopting Islamic law (Sharia) as a source of legislation, she said: “I do not see a need for this as the main problem is not whether or not to include the Sharia, but in its interpretations." "Political and social representatives agreed on the first chapter of the 1959 constitution which provides that Tunisia is a civil state, therefore, we do not see a need for the proposal of Sharia.”