Tunisia's Ennahda not against female president

Tunisian Ennahda Party leader Rashid al-Ghannushi has said his party saw no harm in a female president or prime minister. Ghannushi told a "Women's Day" event organized by his party that they worked towards preserving fundamental rights and freedoms and women's rights. Amid recent debates in Tunisia whether conservative parties would nominate women for president or prime minister, Ghannushi stated, "Our party sees no harm in a female president or prime minister. There is no such restriction on women in Tunisian constitution. Ennahda movement supports all freedoms. Some said we would cover up women when we come to power.' We have no such thing in our party programme, though. We would close beaches, they also said. Last year, six million tourists visited Tunisia. It's an irrational fear." Praising the role of Tunisian women in the fight against dictatorship, Ghannushi described the allegations that Ennahda restricted women's rights and freedoms as groundless. Rashid Al-Gahnnushi recalled that the numbers of female and male nominees in his party's lists in last elections were close, emphasizing that 42 out of 49 female members in the constituent assembly are members of Ennahda Party.