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On November 6th, Emad al-Tarabulsi, the Interior Minister of the Tripoli-based administration, informed plans to re-establish the morality police. The declaration has ignited widespread fears about the erosion of women’s rights in the country.
Big Brother has long stopped being a fictional concept. In Libya, it now threatens to monitor people’s lives under the pretext of protecting Islamic social values.
Starting next month, these patrols are expected to impose strict measures, including forcing girls as young as nine and women to wear veils. They will also have the authority to shut down barbershops and shisha bars that fail to comply with the new regulations.
The scope of these enforcements extends further. Authorities also plan to restrict what they call ‘strange haircuts,’ a vague and undefined term that opens the door to arbitrary enforcement.
Al-Tarabulsi’s response to the public outcry was telling: ‘Personal freedom does not exist here in Libya; those seeking it should go to Europe,’ as reported by The Telegraph.
Jalel Harchaoui, North African security expert and fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security (RUSI), told The Telegraph, ‘Reinstating the morality police would give the government unchecked power to carry out arrests without adhering to formal legal procedures.’
This danger is compounded by Amnesty International’s February report, which revealed that the Tripoli-based Internal Security Agency (ISA) has subjected dozens to abuses, including torture, arbitrary detention, and even death penalties, all under the guise of ‘guarding virtue.’
A troubling history of gender discrimination in Libya
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Libya’s government has posed a threat to women’s independence and autonomy.
In May 2023, the General Authority for Endowments and Islamic Affairs launched the ‘Guardian of Virtue’ program, which restricts women’s travel rights by requiring approval from a male guardian, such as their father, brother, husband, or son.
Previously, in 2017, Libya imposed restrictions on females under 60, prohibiting them from traveling without a male chaperone.
Additionally, UN Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem, who visited Libya in December 2022, reported that domestic violence is widely regarded as a private matter, while rape and other forms of gender-based violence remain culturally taboo.
In essence, women in Libya have limited access to essential support and protection services, such as hotlines and shelters.
BREAKING:
Libya announces it’s introducing a “morality police” of the same type as Iran
The patrols will target strange haircuts, enforce modest clothing and restrict women’s freedom of movement. The Interior Minister said:
“those who want personal freedom should go to Europe” pic.twitter.com/AfakAg4r7h
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 9, 2024
Rising criticism
Libya’s systemic discrimination against women has faced significant backlash from both local and international communities.
According to DW, Libya’s National Human Rights Committee filed a legal complaint against Al-Tarabulsi with the attorney general, arguing that reinstating the morality police violates Article 195 of the Libyan Penal Code, which safeguards citizens’ rights.
Bassam Al Kantar, Amnesty International’s Libya researcher, also emphasized that the proposals for compulsory veiling and restrictions on interactions between genders violate Libya’s obligations under international law.
Meanwhile, More to Her Story shared Libyan people’s reactions, highlighting fears of losing more fundamental rights in the future, such as potential bans on work and education—paralleling the situation in Afghanistan under the Taliban.
What Libyan women demand?
In 2024, during International Women’s Day, the UN in Libya conducted an online survey to better understand how to support them.
Participants called for the UN to encourage the adoption of laws and policies that ensure gender equality, establish inclusive processes for all communities, and develop programs to enhance advocacy skills, boosting women’s participation in the political process.
While Libyan women’s demands are clear, the situation continues to drift further from their aspirations. At this crucial avenue, it’s crucial to amplify their voices and ensure they are heard on the international stage.
