Thousands protest Tunisia gender equality proposals

Thousands of Muslim fundamentalists protested Saturday in front of the nation's parliament to decry proposals in a government report on gender equality that they claim are contrary to Islam.
Men and veiled women marched under a blazing sun from Tunis to Bardo, outside the capital where the parliament is located, to protest the report by the Commission of Individual Liberties and Equality. The report, among other things, calls for legalizing homosexuality and giving the sexes equal inheritance rights.
Security was heavy during the protest, which remained calm despite the anger the report has triggered. The crowd, who came from towns around Tunisia, cried out "Allahu akbar (God is great)" as they marched.
The protest was organized by the National Coordination for the Defense of the Quran, the Constitution and Equitable Development.
The commission was put in place a year ago by President Beji Caid Essebsi, who is expected to speak about it on Monday, Women's Day in Tunisia. It was not immediately clear whether the proposals would eventually be put before parliament.
The North African nation has, since its independence from France in 1956, been a standard-bearer in the Muslim world for women's rights. But the proposals in the 300-page report, known as the Colibe report, would take human rights, including women's rights, to another level. It proposes to end the death penalty and legalize homosexuality, which the current penal code outlaws and punishes with three years in prison.
The equal inheritance proposal is an abrupt change from current practices, which see males in a family receiving double the inheritance of females.
The topics touching on sensitive areas have riled Muslims who embrace a literal reading of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.
"I'm here to defend the word of God and oppose any projects that harm the Islamic identity of our people," said Kamel Raissi, a 65-year-old retiree.
"We totally reject the Colibe report which contains an underhanded hate for Islam," said Abdellatif Oueslati, a nurse from Jendouba, 155 kilometers (95 miles) west of Tunis.
The authors of the report say the proposals conform with the nation's 2014 Constitution and international human rights obligations.
"They in no way contravene Islamic precepts, but embody an enlightened reading of these precepts, which put them in step with the evolution of society," said Abdelmajid Charfi, a university professor who is one of the report's authors.
Protesters at Saturday's rally were not convinced.
Tarek Azouz worried that the proposals amounted to a "wish to destroy moral values" by legalizing homosexuality. If acted upon, he said, "we'll end up with gay marriage."

http://www.france24.com/en/20180811...y-fundamentalists-protest-demonstration-tunis

Finally, an Arab regime that is trying to promote the rights of gays and women.
Do you think this will happen?
Not a chance.
Islam is stronger than any decision.

 

They do whatever they want in their muslim countries.
Let's not forget that a lot of people of Tunisia helped ISIS. One of the nation who has the biggest ratio of jihadist fighter with Belgium.
But you can't coexist with those people.

 

Interesting post. I wasn't aware of this development. From my "Western" point of view, this is a remarkable event, which certainly deserves both recognition and our moral support at least. With the Wahhabi literal fundamentalist interpretation of the Koran currently dominating the Islamic world, this attempt will face strong opposition, but it's encouraging that some Muslims in at least this country, are trying to promote gender equality. They are brave and ahead of their time in that part of the world.

 

Hey libs, here's your chance to make a difference in the world!

Get on over there to Tunisia and tell them you're not gonna take it!

 

Does this mean you don't support gender equality? Just wondering.

 

Right. Send antifa over to harass the Wahabbis.

That will keep them busy for a while.

 

The gender equality thing needs addressing because it affects the majority. I hope they keep pushing for this.

The gay thing doesn't affect the majority.

 

But the Bitter Children will tell you that Brown People in Exotic Headgear can do no wrong.

 

What kind of equality?

They're equal and not equal in many different ways.

Of course, if you're a leftist there is no gender inequality, because you can be whatever gender you want. Gender is just a social construct, remember.

If you were born female just take some hormones and poof you get paid more.

 

There's no such thing as gender inequality. Not in the US anyway. Sowell debunked that bit of poor reasoning in the 70's.

 

The sarcasm is not deserved.

 

Oh it's not directed at you.

I don't know from what position you're coming.

Clearly men and women are not 100% equal as they are different physically and chemically.

So yes, it depends on what area, and what paradigm you're using.

 

Thank you for the clarification. Equal doesn't imply "same." In my mind, it denotes equality of rights under the law and in society, to follow one's life dreams without resistance or opposition based on gender.

 

Yes well we're already equal under the law and rights, in the US.

 

What nonsense...

 

As I said, a brilliant man by the name of Sowell debunked this in the 70's.

 

Not quite. We've still had no female President of the U.S. in 230 years of our history. We still pay females a fraction of what we pay males for the same jobs, etc. Let's finish the job of ascribing equal gender rights ASAP.

 

And he was wrong, if his claim is that there is no gender inequality in the US....

 

Yeah I'm gonna go with Sowell.

You do you.

 

No we don't, all things being equal.

For a woman who spends as much time working as a man, and as many years working as a man, their pay is equal.

If they take years off to raise a child, or choose not to work as hard (it's important to remember most women do not CHOOSE to be workaholics), then they don't make as much.

 

You're going to to go with whomever you just turned up on Google to reinforce your beliefs. Not shocked.

 

Yeah, it's just that Sowell guy.

He isn't well known for his many well-reasoned arguments and intelligence or anything.

You keep hugging your critical theory approach. I'll go with intelligence, logic, and facts.

 

What a bizarre little rant...as if I could not Google a well reasoned argument, supported by evidence, that inequality exists...not that you would watch it, just like you didn't wacth your video you presented...

 

I'm sure logic does look bizarre to those steeped in critical theory.

Let me guess: your "evidence" comes from Vox or the Democratic underground.

Go ahead. Present us your Sowell-refuting "evidence" so I can take a look.

 

I was referring to Tunisia

I agree that there is no gender inequality in the West.