Following are excerpts from a Tunisian parliamentary debate, which aired on Tunisia TV and was posted on the Internet on May 1, 2014.
MP Ibrahim Kassas: In 2011, they said there would be “vertical” gender parity. Now they’ve changed it to “horizontal” parity. It is either vertical or horizontal. Horizontal parity means that there are no men in Tunisia. It means that, for every 50 men, we need 50... Unfortunately, in light of the European plan to support four Arab democracies, Tunisian society has become effeminized.
It’s better for a woman to wait for her husband at home, and raise her children...
Don’t interrupt me. Don’t let him interrupt me. I’m on the clock.
A good woman washes her husband’s feet with warm water when he comes home... the last thing we need...
Gets up and moves to the middle of the hall as an uproar breaks out
This session is over.
Female parliamentary speaker: Ibrahim, finish what you have to say. Ibrahim, you have one minute left. You have one minute. Complete your comments.
He has one minute.
Ibrahim Kassas: By the way, Madam Speaker, the Prophet Muhammad, who did not speak on a whim, said: “If I were to order any human being to bow down before another, I would order the wife to bow down before her husband.” A wife may not speak to her husband without his permission, even in bed.
This is our religion. This is our religion. Whether you like it or not, this is our religion. All the effeminized men can go to hell. Some men behave like women, and, unfortunately, some women...
Parliamentary speaker: That’s his opinion... Unfortunately, Ibrahim, you did not just express your opinion. You cursed. This session is in recess for five minutes. Ibrahim did not express his opinion. He cursed.
Men escort Ibrahim Kassas from the hall
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