Thousands rally in Tunisia for women's rights

A Tunisian demonstrator shouts slogans and holds a poster reading, 'don't touch my rights' during a protest calling for the respect of women's rights and other fundemental rights on August 13, 2012 in Tunis. Tunisian women are rising up against a proposed article in the new constitution being drafted by the National Constituent Assembly seen by many as an Islamist ploy to reverse the principle of gender equality that made Tunisia a beacon of modernity in the Arab world when it was introduced six decades ago. (Getty Images)

TUNIS (Reuters) - Thousands of Tunisians rallied on Monday to protest against what they see as a push by the Islamist-led government for constitutional changes that would degrade women's status in one of the Arab world's most liberal nations.

The protest, by some 6,000 mostly Tunisian women, is the latest twist in a row over the role of Islam in a constitution being drawn up by a new assembly.

Tunisia's ruling Ennahda Movement is under pressure from both hardline Salafi Muslims, calling for the introduction of Islamic law, and secular opposition parties.

Activists are not happy with a stipulation in a draft of the constitution that considers women to be "complementary to men" and want a pioneering 1956 law that grant women full equality with men to remain in place.

More...

Protesters wave flags and shout slogans during a demonstration in Tunis August 13, 2012. Thousands of Tunisians rallied on Monday to protest against what they see as a push by the Islamist-led government for constitutional changes that would degrade women's status in one of the Arab world's most liberal nations. (Reuters Pictures)