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:///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.”…..

http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2017/08/19/arab-social-media-erupts-tunisian-bill-allowing-muslim-women-marry-non-muslims/

SUBHNALLAH WE YORUBA MUSLIMS ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF MUSLIM WOMEN GETTING MARRIED TO INFIDELS.

ALOWONLE419:
SUBHNALLAH WE YORUBA MUSLIMS ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF MUSLIM WOMEN GETTING MARRIED TO INFIDELS.

But you're in support of Muslim men getting married to infidels... radarada

Wow maybe reformation of Islam to conform with 21st century realities and logic is achievable after all, especially on inter religious marriage. Now I can marry my pretty Jemilat in peace.