Five things to know about Tunisia's parliamentary election

Tunisia's parliament has adopted a law criminalising racist speech, incitement to hatred and discrimination, in a vote hailed as a historic first in a country with a significant black minority.

The legislation was approved on Tuesday night after a lengthy debate with 125 members of parliament voting for it, one against and five abstaining.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/tunisia-announces-draft-bill-to-give-women-equal-inheritance-159003">Tunisia announces </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/tunisia-announces-draft-bill-to-give-women-equal-inheritance-159003">draft</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/tunisia-announces-draft-bill-to-give-women-equal-inheritance-159003"> bill to give women equal inheritance</a>

"This is a very important turning point in the history of Tunisia, equivalent to the abolition of slavery," said Messaoud Romdhani, head of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights.

Slavery was abolished in the North African country when it was a beylik, or vassal of the Ottoman empire, in 1846.

"It's a giant step, but there's still a lot of work to be done to make this law a reality in a society where there is racism against the 10 percent of black Tunisians and sub-Saharan Africans who suffer from insults and sometimes violent attacks," said Romdhani.

"It is a question of punishing but also of showing respect, especially through education."

Under the newly passed legislation, offenders can be jailed for one month and fined 1,000 dinars ($350, 300 euros) for using racist language.

Incitement to hatred, making racist threats, spreading and advocating racism, and belonging to an organisation that supports discrimination are punishable by one to three years in prison and can be fined up to 3,000 dinars.

"This is a historic moment for Tunisia," said the Tunisian Association for Minority Support, adding it would continue "the fight to ensure the proper implementation of the law."

Non-governmental organisations in Tunisia often report attacks on people singled out for the colour of their skin.

In August, an Ivorian woman was beaten after responding to insults, raising fears of more attacks on her community.

Tunisia's parliament has adopted a law criminalising racist speech, incitement to hatred and discrimination, in a vote hailed as a historic first in a country with a significant black minority.

Tunisia's parliament has adopted a law criminalising racist speech, incitement to hatred and discrimination, in a vote hailed as a historic first in a country with a significant black minority. The legislation was approved on Tuesday night after a lengthy debate with 125 members of parliament voting for it, one against and five abstaining. Also read: Tunisia announces draft bill to give women equal inheritance "This is a very important turning point in the history of Tunisia, equivalent to the abolition of slavery," said Messaoud Romdhani, head of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights. Slavery was abolished in the North African country when it was a beylik, or vassal of the Ottoman empire, in 1846. "It's a giant step, but there's still a lot of work to be done to make this law a reality in a society where there is racism against the 10 percent of black Tunisians and sub-Saharan Africans who suffer from insults and sometimes violent attacks," said Romdhani. "It is a question of punishing but also of showing respect, especially through education." Under the newly passed legislation, offenders can be jailed for one month and fined 1,000 dinars ($350, 300 euros) for using racist language. Incitement to hatred, making racist threats, spreading and advocating racism, and belonging to an organisation that supports discrimination are punishable by one to three years in prison and can be fined up to 3,000 dinars. "This is a historic moment for Tunisia," said the Tunisian Association for Minority Support, adding it would continue "the fight to ensure the proper implementation of the law." Non-governmental organisations in Tunisia often report attacks on people singled out for the colour of their skin. In August, an Ivorian woman was beaten after responding to insults, raising fears of more attacks on her community.

Tunisia parliament adopts anti-racism law

The Tunisian parliament won a confidence vote and approved the unity government of Youssef Chahed late on Friday, bringing an end to three months of intense negotiations.&nbsp; 
 
The unity government was backed by 167 members of the 217-seat parliament. It is set to take office in the coming days.&nbsp; 
 
The vote on the new government comes as the North African country grapples with lower tourism revenues and security challenges amid a wave of jihadist attacks on foreign tourists last year.&nbsp; 
 
Chahed&rsquo;s cabinet will comprise members from the Islamist Ennahda party, and will also include eight women and 14 &ldquo;young&rdquo; ministers.&nbsp; 
 
Earlier this month, Chahed was named as the next prime minister after his predecessor, Habib Essid, was dismissed in a no-confidence motion following just 18 months in office. &nbsp; 
 
Essid&rsquo;s government has drawn flak for his failure to address issues of unemployment, poverty, corruption and regional disparities that have plagued the country since the 2011 uprising.&nbsp; 
 
Chahed will become the country&rsquo;s youngest prime minister since it won independence from France in 1956. He will also be the nation&rsquo;s seventh head of government in less than six years.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

The Youssef Chahed-led government, which was backed by 167 members of the 217-seat parliament, is set to take office in coming days

The Tunisian parliament won a confidence vote and approved the unity government of Youssef Chahed late on Friday, bringing an end to three months of intense negotiations. The unity government was backed by 167 members of the 217-seat parliament. It is set to take office in the coming days. The vote on the new government comes as the North African country grapples with lower tourism revenues and security challenges amid a wave of jihadist attacks on foreign tourists last year. Chahed’s cabinet will comprise members from the Islamist Ennahda party, and will also include eight women and 14 “young” ministers. Earlier this month, Chahed was named as the next prime minister after his predecessor, Habib Essid, was dismissed in a no-confidence motion following just 18 months in office. Essid’s government has drawn flak for his failure to address issues of unemployment, poverty, corruption and regional disparities that have plagued the country since the 2011 uprising. Chahed will become the country’s youngest prime minister since it won independence from France in 1956. He will also be the nation’s seventh head of government in less than six years. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Tunisian parliament approves formation of unity government