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Tunisia allows more time for women to register their vote

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Summary of story from IPS, August 5, 2011

The Tunisian government has extended the deadline for women to register to vote, and women’s groups have been campaigning in the capital Tunis to get people to sign up by August 14.

A survey among veiled women suggests that four out of five will not vote for the Islamist party Ennahda which is becoming increasingly popular ahead of the elections in October.

However, veils are an unusual sight in a country where women wear bikinis on the beach, listen to rap music and drink alcohol and are not required by society or law to wear veils or scarves.

Many are reluctant to adopt laws and policies like the ones seen in neighbouring Algeria. “Tunisia is not Algeria” is the slogan heard around the country.

“Look around, can you see these people living under Islamic law? Tunisia is not Algeria. I am sure it will never happen here,” says Khadjia, an activist with the Modernist Democratic Front standing amongst protesters by one beach.

Women have had successes they want to hold on to: half the candidates in the electoral lists must now be women. A strong presence of women in the constituent assembly could be crucial to women’s rights.

Women also want to consolidate the position taken by the High Commission charged to verify that the goals of the revolution are respected – namely that religion and politics will be kept separate.

Ennahda has opposed this move in the transitional period. It has also opposed the transitional government’s decision that parties cannot receive funds from outside.

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