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Jews in Tunisia Form Croup to Present Views to New Government

August 17, 1954
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Tunisian Jewish leaders have formed a committee to make a detailed study of recommendations to the new Tunisian Government, it was reported here today by the American Jewish Committee. The recommendations will deal with the following problems:

1. Political– questions of representation, elections, civil and basic human rights; 2. Economic–assurances of non-discrimination; 3. Cultural-“support for Jewish schools, language of instruction; 4. Religious–status of Rabbinical courts, freedom of religious exercise; 5. Social welfare–government support for various social welfare activities now being carried ca by the Jewish Community with government aid. 6. Emigration-and free circulation both of persons and goods in the French Union.

The AJC report is based on information which the organization received from its European director, Zachariah Shuster, who just returned to Paris from a visit to Tunis, where he conferred with the Jewish leaders there. He also was told by the new Tunisian Premier, Tahar ben Ammar, that the Jews in Tunisia will suffer no discrimination of any kind. “I believe that co-existence is possible between Jews and Moslems,” the Premier is reported to have said.

The policy of guaranteeing equality to all inhabitants of Tunisia received the approval of two Tunisian political leaders, M. Mongi Slim, Minister of State in the new Cabinet, and Dr. Sad ok Mokadden, the new Tunisian Minister of Justice. Both leaders told Mr. Shuster that they wanted a state based on equality without any discrimination and that their party had always adopted a positive attitude toward Jews as co-citizens, even during the days of the German occupation.

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