Code of Personal Status in Tunisia

Code of Personal Status (Tunisia)
Code of Personal Status (Tunisia)
Enacted	August 13, 1956
Commenced	January 1, 1957

The official issuance of the Code of Personal Status, seated from left to right: Ahmed Mestiri, Habib Bourguiba, and Muhammad al-Tahir ibn Ashur. Standing behind Bourghuiba is Mohamed Abdelaziz Djaït

Original text of the Code of Personal Status, August 1956

The Code of Personal Status (CPS) (Arabic: مجلة الأحوال الشخصية) is a series of progressive Tunisian laws aiming at the institution of equality between women and men in a number of areas. It was promulgated by beylical decree on August 13, 1956 and came into effect on January 1, 1957. This Code is one of the most significant deeds of Habib Bourguiba, who was Prime Minister and later President.

The code outlawed polygamy, set minimum ages for marriage, required mutual consent for marriage, and allowed either spouse to file for divorce in secular court.^[1] Bourguiba's successor, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, reaffirmed the government's commitment to the Code.^[1] He himself introduced modifications that reinforced it, in particular with the July 1993 amendment.

^ ^a ^b Perkins, Kenneth (1997). "Personal Status Code of 1956". Historical Dictionary of Tunisia (2nd ed.). Lanham, Md. & London: Scarecrow Press. pp. 146–147. ISBN 0-8108-3286-0.

[:0-1] Perkins, Kenneth (1997). "Personal Status Code of 1956". Historical Dictionary of Tunisia (2nd ed.). Lanham, Md. & London: Scarecrow Press. pp. 146–147. ISBN 0-8108-3286-0.

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