ÎPTÎSAM AXFÎR

Benghazi–Libyan general elections will be held on December 24, 2021. Even if female candidates seem to be supported in the upcoming elections, the number of female candidates is very low. We spoke to Libyan women about the upcoming elections.

“Women have the knowledge and emotions to run for the elections”

Samia Al-Saeiti is a nurse and she thinks the number of female candidates is not low. “Women have the knowledge and emotions to run for the elections. I support all women, who think to run for the elections. However, men only use their knowledge when they take office. Women can deliver justice. I wish the female candidates to have a strong and courageous personality,” she told us.

“Libyan women are strong”

Libyan women are strong but we live in a patriarchal society, Sahar Al-Khashmi said, “Our society thinks women are weak. But we have young female judges in Libya while most Arab countries don’t have. And this shows us that women in Libya are strong.” Sahar Al-Khashmi talked about the upcoming elections, “Libyan women are strong enough to lead political parties. However, the patriarchal society we live in does not encourage women to take part in politics. 70% of women are not supported.”

Leyla El-Warfali is a graduate of the Institute For Nursing like Sahar Al-Khashmi. She told us Libyan women have begun to overcome all obstacles. “Women are aware of many things but they don’t have motivation.” 

“Women should be supported”

Zainab Saeed Habil, a member of the Democratic Party, told us more women will run for the elections to be held on December 24. “Husbands try to convince their wives to run for the elections, brothers try to convince their sisters because they think there will be a 30% quota for women. The number of women runs for the elections will be very high and they should be supported.”

Women support women

Zainab Saeed Habil stated that five women ministers appointed in Libya's Government of National Unity encourage women to run for the upcoming elections. “We have seen what women can do. Libya's Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush is especially a good model for women. Women are supported by women.”