A draft bill presented to the Tunisian parliament that would give women and men equality with regard to inheritance laws and allow Muslim Tunisian women to marry non-Muslim men has drawn anger from conservative circles in the country and the wider Arab world.
And herein lies the problem: across the Arab world — and the Islamic world in general — women are not equal to men, period. Based on the “eruption” of responses on social media, this violation of the sharia is not being taken lightly. Brother Rachid sums it up:
Tunisia has adopted equality in inheritance between men and women and gave up the text of the Quran that clarifies the inequality between men and women on the subject.
Others tweets on the other hand rightly oppose female inequality, and are supportive of the bill. It’s a pity that in the West, we not only subject our own citizens to sharia incursions arising from suicidal immigration policies, but we also fail to support those very women who come from countries that deem them to be inferior.
“Arab Social Media Erupts Over Tunisian Bill Allowing Muslim Women to Marry Non-Muslims”, Ali Waked, Breitbart, August 19, 2017:
TEL AVIV — A draft bill presented to the Tunisian parliament that would give women and men equality with regard to inheritance laws and allow Muslim Tunisian women to marry non-Muslim men has drawn anger from conservative circles in the country and the wider Arab world.
The fact that Tunisian president Beji Caid Essebsi supports the bill has only increased the anger of its opponents.
While sharia law allows Muslims to marry non-Muslim women who convert to Islam, the law forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim man unless he converts to Islam. Sharia law also states that two-thirds of an inheritance can go to men while just one third remains for women.
The bill has been covered extensively by social media users in the Arab world, with most discussing the inheritance law rather than the parts of the bill that would allow Muslim women to marry non-Muslim men, most likely due to the assumption that the number of such cases will be low in the face of familial and societal opposition.
One social media user from Saudi Arabia known as Handala wrote, “Islam has divided justice between a man and a woman and now the fools come and demand equality between the two sexes.”
عَدَلَ الإسْلام بينَ الرَّجُل والمرأة، ثُمَّ جاءَ الرُّعاع يطْلبون المساواة بَيْنهمَا.
— حنظلة (@CHIVOS3) August 14, 2017
Egyptian journalist Mirna al-Helbawi criticized women who oppose the bill, writing, “The real problem is that most of those in opposition are women and girls. When that’s our disgusting situation it’s no wonder governments do what they do.”
المشكلة الحقيقية إن كتير من المعترضين على المساواة هما بنات و ستات. بجِملة القرف اللي في البلد يعني مجتش على دول ?
— Mirna El Helbawi (@Mirna_elhelbawi) August 16, 2017
A Twitter account known as “I’m an Arab” posted a video showing Tunisia’s Mufti expressing opposition to the bill in the past and supporting it today, suggesting that the Mufti is being pressured to support the bill.
رفضه قبل عام ووافق عليه هذه السنة.. تعرفوا على تناقض موقف مفتي تونس من المساواة في الميراث. pic.twitter.com/7rTw5xbVxj
— أنا العربي (@AnaAlarabytv) August 16, 2017
Egyptian activist John Samir wrote sarcastically, “The leader Essebsi suggests that once the woman gets pregnant and once the man gets pregnant in order to have equality in Tunisia.”
القائد السبسي التونسي يقترح ان تحمل الزوجة مرة ويحمل الزوج مرة بالتناوب لتطبيق المساواة في تونس..????
— john samir (@O0onaa) August 16, 2017
Moroccan journalist Brother Rasheed wrote, “Tunisia has adopted equality in inheritance between men and women and gave up the text of the Quran that clarifies the inequality between men and women on the subject.”
تونس أقرت المساواة بين الذكر والأنثى في الإرث وتخلت عن النص القرآني الذي يعلم عدم المساواة بين الذكر والأنثى
— Brother Rachid (@BrotherRasheed) August 16, 2017
Egyptian activist Marwa Kassab wrote to men, “It’s your right to oppose equality and to continue demanding the maintenance of the current situation and it’s your right to state your opinion but please stop with your pathetic games and exercises.”
من حقك تعترض على المساواة وتتمسك بالوضع الحالي وتقول أسبابك وحجتك لكن مش لازم الحركات البلدي وشغل التلات ورقات كدة.
— Marwa Kassab (@marwakassab) August 16, 2017
Tunisian journalist Muhammad al-Midi criticized former Tunisian president Munsif Marzouki for supporting the bill, writing, “An unfortunate announcement by president Dr. Munsif Marzouki that he will be the first to support equal inheritance between men and women. This is a mistaken position and I call on him to retract it.”
تصريح مؤسف للرئيس الدكتور منصف المرزوقي. يقول كنت أول من أمضى وثيقة المساواة في الإرث بين الرجل والمرأة.
هذا موقف خاطئ أحثه على التراجع عنه. pic.twitter.com/9MmWcs2xTp— محمد الهاشمي الحامدي (@MALHACHIMI) August 16, 2017
Egyptian social media user Hajouj wrote, “My opinion, which means nothing, is that equality between the man and the woman in all areas will never be in the best interests of the woman.”
رأيي اللي ملوش اي قيمة ان المساواة بين الراجل والست في كل حاجة ( كل حاجة ) مستحيل تكون في صالح الست ..(((بدون نقاش ))) والله الموفق ?
— حجوج (@7agog) August 16, 2017
The Twitter account called Summer wrote, “Naturally, I would prefer equality in inheritance be based on sharia. I support the idea not from a desire to break the laws of sharia but out of disgust at what’s happening in reality in the absence of equality under the law.”
فـ بطبيعة الحال أنا مؤيدة للمساواة في الميراث سواء كانت في الشرع ولا تخالفه. مش حباً في مخالفة الشرع بس كرهاً في اللي بيحصل في غياب المساواة
— summer. (@SummerNazif) August 16, 2017
In another tweet, she added, “When my grandfather died, my father and brothers, the men, divided the inheritance between them and didn’t give anything to their sisters or their mother, promising to support them financially. The consequences of this act haunt us until today.”
لما جدي مات أبويا واخواته الرجالة قسموا الورث بينهم و حرموا اخواتهم البنات ومامتهم بحجة إنهم “هيصرفوا عليهم” وعواقب ده لسه بتطاردنا للنهاردة
— summer. (@SummerNazif) August 16, 2017
Female Egyptian activist Alyaa Jad, wrote, “Sharia does injustice to women. The secular laws ensure equality between the sexes in inheritance, as does the power of female testimony in the courts and the independence of the woman.”
الشريعة ظالمة للنساء والقوانين العلمانية تحقق المساواة بين الجنسين في حقوق الميراث والشهادة في المحاكم واكتمال أهلية المرأة واستقلاليتها.
— Alyaa Gad (@AlyaaGad) August 16, 2017
Egyptian author Muhammad Sinjer wrote, “Applauding Tunisia for changing the Arab perception of equal rights between men and women! It’s clear that they haven’t read the Quran and the Hadiths, and unfortunately they are also Muslims.”
يطبلون لـ #تونس لأنها غيرت المفاهيم العربية في المساواة بين الرجل والمرأة والحقوق! واضح لم يقرؤا القرآن والاحاديث وللأسف مُسلمون الهويه❗️
— محمد سنجر (@mzeezm131) August 16, 2017
Tunisian author Layla Cheeb was angry with those opposed to the bill and turned to the leader of North Korea for help. “Everyone has suddenly begun to understand equality and sharia, very good. I say to the president of North Korea, point the missile you’re setting aside for America at Tunisia.”
كلها ولات تفهم في المساواة و الشرع و ادافع على المرا و الزوالي. حاجة بركة نقولها لرئيس كوريا ش الصاروخ اللي ماشي ل #أمريكا #تونس أولى بيه.
— Leila©Chouaieb (@LeilaChTun) August 16, 2017
Egyptian journalist Muhammad Mujahed wrote, “The opinions of the people regarding equality in inheritance will let you differentiate between the dark, primitive and chauvinist minds and the enlightened and logical mind.”
آراء الناس في قضية المساواة في المواريث هاتخليك تقدر تفرز العقول الرجعية الظلاميه الذكورية عن العقول الرشيدة المتنورة…
— Mhmd Megahed (@Moh_Megahed) August 16, 2017
Tunisian author Raja bin Salama wrote, “Rulings of religious law should be reduced to matters of worship. My opinion is that a state needs to be civil and that means no presence of religious authority.”
لا إفتاء إلاّ في العبادات والأخلاقيّات
رأيي الذي عبّرت عنه مرارا هو أنّ مدنيّة الدّولة تعني عدم وجود سلطة دينيّة… https://t.co/4nXSobynOx— Raja Ben Slama (@RajaBenSlama) August 15, 2017
Tunisian journalist Tatiana el Khoury wrote, “Equality in inheritance between the man and the woman, and the right of the Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim and the prevention of polygamy. … O Tunisia, you carry the flag of the Arab world, bravo!”
المساواة في الإرث بين المرأة والرجل
وحق زواج المسلمة بغير المسلم ومنع تعدد الزوجات.. يا #تونس يا حاملة الراية في عالمنا العربي، برافو!— Tatiana El Khoury (@TatianaELK) August 16, 2017
Tunisian political activist Jaouhar bin Mubarak wrote, “The initiative of the president to present the bill for equality in inheritance and the right for Tunisian woman to choose their partners is an excellent step. Period and no buts.”…..
Guy Macher says
Love the photo of the barbarian sniffing the nosegay. Meanwhile, the unfortunate Muslima dreads her impending rape.
manat bint allaha says
if that happens, islam will start bursting at the seams.
Peter Buckley says
Islam is already bursting at the seams. All these civil wars in the Middle East are the beginning of the long haul towards democracy. Places like Tunisia have a simple choice: go democratic, and be part of the world, or drift towards the moral and financial bankruptcy of an “Islamic country”.
I liked this comment: “Egyptian author Muhammad Sinjer wrote, “Applauding Tunisia for changing the Arab perception of equal rights between men and women! It’s clear that they haven’t read the Quran and the Hadiths, and unfortunately they are also Muslims.”
Nice one……….
The Islamists , and therefore Islam, are losing badly in Tunisia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha_rXDe9WxU
Once secular democracy is established, Islam will wither. Devout muslims know this:
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2015/08/tunisian-author-democratizing-muslim-countries-means-leaving-islam
Guest says
That would be a good thing
Vic says
I wonder if Hollywood Feminists, their partners and Linda Sarsour will rise in defense of this bill addressing equality for women?
Guest says
I wouldn’t hold my breathe.
zachary says
If it angers Muslims it is good I am sick & tired of all the mollycoddling the Muslims seem to think the world must do & say only what they want & it will never work that way Good always conquers evil.
eduardo odraude says
One could almost get the impression that the advancing technology of communications is making repression more difficult and forcing the Islamic world, slowly, to change. Even if Islam is not reformable, people can force it into a limited role or abandon it. David Wood points out that it is only in the current generation that the Islamic world has had to hear significant criticism of Islam. The Hadith collections were only translated into English within the last few decades. Maybe Ali Sina’s is right that, through exposure to the light, Islam can become moribund more suddenly than people currently imagine … Remember how suddenly and surprisingly the Soviet Union collapsed…
Anyway, one can dream.
C T says
I share your dream. Until I discovered the ahadith, online, translated, and unapologetic in calling for death to apostates from Islam and those with heterodox beliefs about Islam, I didn’t understand how awful most kinds of Islam are. No, I’m not saying that prayer, sobriety, modesty, and voluntary submission to God are awful. Far from it. The ahadith take away the voluntary nature of what should be a voluntary submission to God and so twist it into slavery of the mind and body. The only Islam that can be treated with the respect normally accorded to religious belief is an Islam which rejects the literal, inflexible application of the ahadith, for the command to kill apostates and heterodox Muslims is logically incompatible with the idea of worshipful submission.
Abraham was only told to sacrifice Isaac as a test and a teaching moment about sacrifice; faithful fundamentalist Muslims who accept the ahadith are told to sacrifice their unfaithful children, and sadly there is no angel to stop the knife from descending as there was for Abraham. Imagine the horror that can stem from an ideology that teaches parents to approve their children’s murders. Sting sang that the Russians wouldn’t start a nuclear war because they “love their children, too.” Can we say the same for fundamentalist Islam?
Peter Buckley says
It will take a lot longer than the Soviet Union, but it isn’t a dream-it is happening now.
There will be no trace of Islam in some believers…(Sahih Bukhari, 9.84.65)
A lot of “muslims”, but not much Islam………….
Mike says
If I ran the Western world, all of these countries would be forcibly invaded and put under colonial administration. One of the first things that would happen is that lega equality between men and women would be enforced, as viciously as is necessary for success.
Honour killings would be met by pigskin burials of the perpetrators. FGM would be met by penectomies, etc. Those hassling converts to other religions would find themselves with lengthy jail sentences.
Slowly, change would be introduced.
After a generation or so, I would introduce proper municipal government and electoral democracy at that level, subject to supervision.
Over another generation, I would slightly expand the powers of the municipal governments.
A few generations of this, and we’d probably have some progress.
Let’s not forget how easily the changes can be reversed, though: look at the Ataturk experiment and how it’s going now.
TheOldOligarch says
”While sharia law allows Muslims to marry non-Muslim women who convert to Islam, the law forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim man unless he converts to Islam.”
That sentence makes no sense, that’s the same thing.
faraway says
I noticed that too,but they’ve got it wrong.For sunni muslims the infidel wife does not have to convert;it is just the husband’s duty to try to convert her.
Guest says
If the bill is passed then a part of the Arab world will start taking a step in the right direction. And hopefully the rest of the Middle East will begin to follow the example.
DJM says
In Islam, children are the religion and property of the father. A Muslim father produces Muslim children, regardless of the mother’s religion. If Muslim women are allowed to marry non-Muslim men, suddenly there are children being born non-Muslim in an Islamic society. Since Sharia Law is designed to increase the Muslim population while concurrently suppressing and reducing the non-Muslim population.
Giving women equal inheritance and freedom is a threat to Islam’s slow genocide of non-Muslims.
somehistory says
The government might change the *law* of the land, but the moslums won’t abide by it. They will still kill their daughters and the non-moslums they marry.
It is dangerous for any non moslum to even consider marrying an adherent of the devil’s beast.
Matthieu Baudin says
“…While sharia law allows Muslims to marry non-Muslim women who convert to Islam, the law forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim man unless he converts to Islam…”
I think this should read as follows: – ‘…While sharia law allows Muslim [men] to marry non-Muslim women who [do not] convert to Islam, the law forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim man unless he converts to Islam…’
Furthermore, is showing courageous leadership by supporting the bill. The next step, the more difficult/controversial one, would be for the religious status of the children of a mixed marriage not to be automatically registered as Muslim.
Matthieu Baudin says
(Correction/Alteration to above comments)
“…While sharia law allows Muslims to marry non-Muslim women who convert to Islam, the law forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim man unless he converts to Islam…”
I think this should read as follows: –
‘…While sharia law allows Muslim [men] to marry non-Muslim women who [have not and do not subsequently] convert to Islam, [sharia] law forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim man unless he [first] converts to Islam…’
Furthermore, President Beji Caid Essebsi is showing courageous leadership by supporting the bill. The next step, the more difficult and controversial one, would be for the religious status of the children of a mixed marriage to not to be automatically registered as Muslim.
Rob says
Oh no, no…this can’t be right! No Muslim would object to female equality. Linda Sarsour assures us that Mohammad was the original champion of women’s rights and that Islam is the only social/religious/legal system to offer women true equality. Surely Sarsour can’t be full of bull…t?!