Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi announced on Monday that he supports calls for enshrining inheritance equality between men and women, despite protests opposing the proposition.

“I propose equal inheritance to become law,” Essebsi said in a televised speech on the occasion of National Women’s Day in Tunisia.

On Saturday, thousands demonstrated in front of the Tunisian parliament and in several cities against a bill proposing gender equality in inheritance laws, which would contradict provisions in Islamic law.

They called for implementing Islamic law when it comes to inheritance.

Essebsi, however, said those who favour Islamic laws should have the choice to refer to them.

The Tunisian constitution, approved in 2014 in a process hailed internationally for its inclusiveness of secular and religious views, safeguards gender equality in general, but does not specify inheritance laws.

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