This article was about how women’s rights in Tunisia are under threat by the government. In 1956 Tunisia gained its independence from France, this allowed for many rights to be granted and “expanded” upon for women. While this was a good thing soon the Islamist community in the country began to be shut out of government and society. With this “persecution” in play government even went so far as to pass a ban that did not allow women to wear their veils in “public buildings or universities.” Many groups felt that this ban was taken too far and some groups even protested against the ban. There are some in the government mainly the Islamists that are left, who would see that many of the rights and freedoms given to women would be taken away. There are also some in the government who would see that women are given more rights and freedoms. Many women in Tunisia it seems are waiting until the government can step in and do something for them, Chema Gargouri, the president of the Tunisian Association for Management and Social Stability asks that women not “rely solely on the government but on themselves and how they can change their circumstances.” That is why Ms. Gargouri’s organization helps to lend money and provides different sorts of training for underprivileged women and youth, she tries to show women how they can change things “on their own.” The main issue is that women are still governed by the old rules, Tunisia is still and Islamic state and until that changes the cry of many of these women for freedom and rights will go unanswered. This article focused on how women’s rights were being taken away but it did not really go into detail on what was threatened to be taken away other than just a few examples. The article also could have gone more into some of the ways that women are fighting to keep their rights and freedoms.
Lynne E. Davis
22 February 2013
12:43
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