The decades-old ban placed on Muslim women from marrying non-Muslim men has been abolished by the Tunisian government.

The presidency announced the lift of the ban on Thursday in Tunis.

Ms. Saida Garrach, Presidency Spokeswoman posted on her Facebook wall: “Congratulations to the women of Tunisia for the enshrinement of the right to the freedom to choose one’s spouse.”

The announcement comes a month after President Beji Caid Essebsi called for the government to scrap the ban dating back to 1973.

Until now a non-Muslim man who wished to marry a Tunisian woman had to convert to Islam and submit a certificate of his conversion as proof, Africa Review reports.

Human rights groups in the North African country had campaigned for the ban’s abolition, saying it undermined the fundamental human right to choose a spouse.

Tunisia is viewed as being ahead of most Arab countries on women’s rights, but there is still discrimination particularly in matters of inheritance.

NAN