Representatives of Jewish organizations today continued their talks here with political leaders to make sure that there will be no discrimination against Jews in the new convention now being drawn for limited internal autonomy for this French protectorate. There are 80,000 native Jews in Tunisia.
There are general guarantees on the law books here now, securing equal rights for Jews. An 1857 treaty asserts that “no distinction is to be made between Tunisian Moslems and Tunisian Jews.” Article 86 of the Tunisian Constitution of 1861 provides that “all subjects of the Tunisian regency of whatever religion have the right to complete security of person, property and honor.”
There have, however, been instances of legislative discrimination against Jews. A 1937 reform law admitting Tunisians to governmental posts, theretofore reserved for Frenchmen only, states that those positions should be open to Tunisian Moslems only. The Jewish community is now seeking guarantees against further discrimination of that kind in the future, under the new regime.
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