(Tunis) Tunisia today signed a measure cancelling a provision dating
back to November 5, 1973, which banned Tunisian women from marrying
non-Muslim men. This was one of the last measures stemming from Islamic law
that went against the gender equality of citizens, such marriages were only
possible if the man converted to Islam in front of a Mufti of the republic,
which provided a certificate to be presented to civil authorities. However Christian
or Jewish women were allowed to marry a Muslim.
The justice ministry came to the conclusion that the 1973 legislation went against articles 201 and 41 of the Tunisian Constitution and international agreements signed by Tunisia and thus has changed the law for the better. Tunisian women will now be allowed to marry men regardless of their religion.
