Libyan Women Hopeful as Interim Leader Calls for Civil State

By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TRIPOLI, Libya – Monday marked the beginning of a turning point for Libya as Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council (NTC) that will act as the interim government, delivered a speech in Tripoli’s newly named Martyrs’ Square that laid out his vision for the newly liberated country.  More than 10,000 people attended the address, including many women who enthusiastically cheered him on while waving the red, black, and green flag of liberation.

An enthusiastic crowd cheered NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel-Jalils address in Tripolis Martyrs Square Monday night
A passionate crowd cheered NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel-Jalil's address in Tripoli's Martyrs' Square Monday night. (Photo courtesy of the Tripoli Post)

“Women will be ambassadors,” Abdel-Jalil, the former justice minister of exiled leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, declared.  “Women will be ministers.”

Statements such as these from Abdel-Jalil, who defected from the Gaddafi regime when the revolution began, raised the hopes of the crowd.  He emphasized that the new Libya would have a strong focus on women and youth.  The address also made a point of giving credit to all who were involved in the revolution, including the NATO alliance and sympathetic members of the Gaddafi forces, who sabotaged missions or deliberately aimed away from rebels when ordered to fire.

For women of Libya, they anxiously await the payoff for their hard work in organizing rebel cells that turned into small armies that helped send Gaddafi into exile.  They functioned in multiple ways to aid the forces: collecting money, hiding fighters, and even running guns.  One woman, an art teacher named Amal Bashir, acquired ammunition through use of a secret code.  The New York Times described the code as follows: “[s]mall-caliber rounds were called ‘pins,’ larger rounds were ‘nails.’ A ‘bottle of milk’ meant a Kalashnikov.”

But whether that payoff comes will depend in large part on the government that forms.  Abdel-Jalil vowed that the new Libya would not accept extremist ideologies.  He also rejected the idea of a secular country, instead seeing one that is driven by Sharia (Muslim) law.

“We are a Muslim nation, with a moderate Islam, and we will maintain that. You are with us and support us – you are our weapon against whoever tries to hijack the revolution,” he said.

Abdel-Jalil had no plans for reprisals against Gaddafi loyalists.  Part of his speech, which was broadcast nationally, was directed at those who remained loyal to the former despot, who remains at large.  He urged those people to surrender, as Muslims were “a people of forgiveness.”  Abdel-Jalil also encouraged Libyans affected by the Gaddafi regime not to seek revenge against loyalists for past crimes.

“We need to open the courts to anyone who harmed the Libyan people in any way. The judicial system will decide,” he told the crowd.

Women look forward to the possibility of their new role in society: their occupations, unimpeded by the corrupt Gaddafi regime.  Gaddafi’s Green Book contained extensive material on respect for women, including sections on breastfeeding and domesticity.  But when they tried to follow the Green Book, they were held down by the government.  For instance, Bashir dreamed of a career as an artist, but she canceled what would have been her first exhibition after her sponsor, a member of the regime, demanded sex from her.

That fear is gone, having been replaced by optimism.  For Aisha Gdour, a school psychologist who smuggled bullets to rebel fighters in her handbag, there is no looking back.  “Maybe I can be the new president or the mayor,” she said.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera — Libya’s new leader calls for civil state — 13 September 2011

BBC — Libya: NTC’s Jalil vows state based on ‘moderate Islam’ — 13 September 2011

Libya TV — Libya’s interim leader makes landmark Tripoli speech — 13 September 2011

Tripoli Post — Interim Libyan Leader Calls for Reconciliation in His First Public Speech — 13 September 2011

New York Times — Libyan Transitional Leader Urges Reconciliation, Using Symbolism of Tripoli Site –12 September 2011

New York Times — Libya’s War-Tested Women Hope to Keep New Power — 12 September 2011

Author: Impunity Watch Archive