The document discusses minorities in Tunisia. It defines a minority as a group that is numerically inferior and in a non-dominant position in a state, with differing ethnic, religious, or linguistic characteristics. The Tunisian law recognizes Jewish and Christian communities but excludes them from state affairs and the presidency. Other minorities like Bahai and Shia are not recognized, and irreligious people were recently recognized in theory. The LGBT community has no legal status and homosexuality remains a crime in Tunisia.

1. RIGHTS OF MINORITIES
IN TUNISIA
By Rahma Sghaier

2. SUMMARY
 What is the definition of the word « minority »
 Does the Tunisian law protect minorities’ rights?
 How does the Tunisian society deal with minorities? (through
interviews)

3. WHAT IS A MINORITY?

4. DEFINITON
 There is no legal definiton to the word « minority » in the Tunisian
legislation.
 Adopted by consensus in 1992, the United Nations Minorities
Declaration in its article 1 refers to minorities as based on national or
ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity, and provides that
States should protect their existence.

5.  There is no internationally agreed definition as to which groups
constitute minorities. It is often stressed that the existence of a
minority is a question of fact and that any definition must include
both objective factors (such as the existence of a shared ethnicity,
language or religion) and subjective factors (including that individuals
must identify themselves as members of a minority).

6. DOCTRINE
 According to a definition offered in 1977 by Francesco Capotorti, Special
Rapporteur of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, a minority is: A group numerically
inferior to the rest of the population of a State, in a non-dominant position, whose
members - being nationals of the State - possess ethnic, religious or linguistic
characteristics differing from those of the rest of the population and show, if only
implicitly, a sense of solidarity, directed towards preserving their culture, traditions,
religion or language.

7.  The question often arises as to whether, for example, persons with
disabilities, persons belonging to certain political groups or persons with a
particular sexual orientation or identity (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
or intersexual persons) constitute minorities. While the United Nations
Minorities Declaration is devoted to national, ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities, it is also important to combat multiple discrimination
and to address situations where a person belonging to a national or ethnic,
religious and linguistic minority is also discriminated against on other
grounds such as gender, disability or sexual orientation.

8. THE TUNISIAN LAW
 The jewish and christian communities are recognized by official
texts in Tunisia and they have their official representatives. Their
places of worship are protected and their buildings and cemeteries are
preserved. However, tunisian jews and christians are excluded from
the participation in state affairs.
Besides, up to the constitution, they are deprived of the nomination
for the Presidency of the Republic.

9.  Other minorities such as the Bahai or chiaa have been denied the
simple act of recognition. The Bahai community was even denied the
establishment of an association by the general secretary of the
government.
 Irreligious people have been recently recognized (in theory) as the
article 6 of the constitution guarantees the freedom of conscience.

10.  As for the LGBT community, they have no legal status in Tunisia.
Being gay is yet penalized in the Tunisian Penal Code. (Crime:
Sodomy)