Tunisia's National Assembly Approves Constitutional Provision Making Islam Country's Religion

Tunisia's National Assembly began voting Friday, article-by-article, on the country's proposed new constitution. (AFP 1/3). On Saturday, by a vote of 146-3 it adopted Article I which reads:  "Tunisia is a free, independent and sovereign state. Islam is its religion, Arabic is its language, and it is a republic. It is not possible to amend this article." The Assembly rejected proposed amendments that would have provided that Islam or the Qur'an would be the principal source of legislation.  The provision as adopted is a compromise between the Islamist Ennahda party and secularists. (AFP 1/4.) The constitution must be adopted by 2/3 of the Assembly's 217 members, or else submitted for a referendum.