Al-Marsad newspaper: The amended version of the draft constitution announced by Tunisian President Kais Saied on Friday sparked widespread controversy in the country.
Hours ago, Saeed spoke regarding errors in the version of the new draft constitution issued on the thirtieth of last June, and accordingly he issued the new version, which included an amendment that included several chapters.
Most notable modifications
Among the most prominent of these features, is what came in Chapter Five, which raised the controversy related to the purposes of Islam, where the first version included “Tunisia is part of the Islamic nation, and the state alone must work to achieve the purposes of Islam.”
As for the amended text, it included that “Tunisia is part of the Islamic nation, and the state alone must work, under a democratic system, to achieve the objectives of Islam,” meaning that it emphasized working under a democratic system.
Rights and Freedoms
Among the chapters that also sparked controversy, the chapter on rights and freedoms, which was amended, as the first version stipulated that no restrictions should be placed on the rights and freedoms guaranteed in this Constitution except by virtue of a law and for a necessity required by national defense, public security, public health, protection of the rights of others, or Public morals.
While the amended version stipulates that restrictions are not placed on the rights and freedoms guaranteed in this constitution except by virtue of a law and a necessity required by a democratic system and with the aim of protecting the rights of others or for the requirements of public security, national defense or public health, which means that the amended version deleted the word “public morals” as it is loose and provokes restrictions on liberties, and added the frequent addition of “a necessity necessitated by a democratic system.”
Election of members of Parliament
There is also an amendment in Chapter 60 related to the election of parliament members in the previous version, in which the method of electing parliament was not addressed, while the new version emphasized that the election of parliament would be free, general and direct.