When I wrote The People's Manifesto, my family pointed out one glaring omission. The freedoms and rights of women in Libya. This wasn't, it shouldn't be noted, an accident. Not because I don't believe in women's rights.....how can I not, since our Prophet made it a cornerstone of social interaction. It was just that, Libya for me has been a paragon of women's rights. Where the balance of equality and social responsibility is maintained. I didn't think it was something that Libya and Libyans needed to worry about from a constitutional standpoint. However, it appears that not everyone holds my opinion on the female standing within Libyan society. There seems to be a belief that women in Libya are second-class citizens, who have no part to play in society than to have and bring up children - why this is belittled I am not sure.
So, let me start off with an amendment to The People's Manifesto.
In most debates these days, phrases are bandied around as if there is a consensus to their meanings. It's as if, when we say "terrorist", "democracy", "human rights", "women's rights" or "freedom of expression" that we all know what that means. But ask people to articulate what women's rights means to them and you will have multiple ideas. So the above is my beginning this post with what I believe to be women's rights. But women's rights has to be understood in the context of the society you are talking about. It cannot be looked at in isolation and assumed that women want, have or need the same sort of rights the world over. One thing is always mentioned is that there should be equality of men and women. But in a society like Libya where the people DO make a distinction between the roles of men and the roles of women (especially women themselves), equality there does not mean the same as the West for example. And the vast majority of women in Libya are happy and accepting of that. Therefore, the phrase that applies best to a society like Libya is that women are equals - in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the law (e.g. a crime is equally as bad whether committed by a man or woman and the punishment for that crime is the same) - but different.
Let's look at a simple example. From above "That they have full rights to their own wealth and that no man has any rights upon that wealth.". Now this is not workable in the West. We see in many divorce cases in the UK that if the woman happens to have the most wealth, her estranged husband has some rights to it. But that is because, in British society, a woman does not have the right to expect that it is her husband's duty to feed, clothe and shelter her. But this is an essential part of Libyan (and Islamic) society. So the context of the society we live in shapes how the rights of all people are determined.
In a society where the goal of every woman is to become a wife and mother and that of every man is to provide for his wife and children, will there be many career-minded women? Of course not. But does that mean our girls should receive a sub-standard education in comparison to their male peers? Again, of course not. In fact, it is of utmost importance that the girls receive equal if not better education. As I have stated previously, it is mothers who shape the morality of society and education only enforces morality and not undermine it.
I want to finish this post on an angry note. I, as an Arab, Muslim, Libyan man, am getting extremely frustrated with the filthy reputation that we have been branded with. We are all polygynous, wife-beating, child abusing beasts! We look at women as nothing but housemaids during the day and prostitutes at night. These lies have to stop! It is not an excuse to say that the actions of a few taint the reputation of the majority. Because we do not sit around labelling European men as incestuous sexual predators (Josef Fritzl???) or wife beating maniacs (Gazza et al), or adulterers. I am willing to bet a lot of money that the reputation that has been branded upon us Arab men is more applicable to Western men than us. And yet we seem to find it easy to ignore the actions of Baby P's parents as a one-off, or that crimes of Chris Brown as unique. So people who accuse Libyans, Arabs and Muslims of these disgusting crimes have to place their own society on trial first and determine how innocent they would be. Good and evil exists everywhere and no one people have a monopoly on either. So don't you dare label us with the filth that you claim. And if you wish to continue - speak to me.
Reda
p.s. On a different note, the great-nephew of the previous King of Libya wants to bring back the monarchy. Seriously, how arrogant is this fella? I know the people do not have an appetite for this, which I am grateful for. However, this man disgusts me. He still calls himself Prince. Arrogant!
So, let me start off with an amendment to The People's Manifesto.
It is the solemn belief of the Libyan people that females are held in the highest esteem in our society. That as our mothers, daughters, sisters and wives it is the duty of our society to ensure they respected, safe and adored. That they have full rights to their own wealth and that no man has any rights upon that wealth. That no man should lay a finger on them and that no harm should become them. It is our belief that women have a voice and that they will have a say in how this country will be run. Allah has provided women with a nature that is opposite to man so that they may work with men to make Libya the beautiful balanced society we dream of. It is not only a right, but a duty that women play a full and active part in politics, as their wisdom and softness of nature can only benefit the nation. But it is without fear that we express our belief that the greatest duty a woman has to society is as a woman. A large nation is a strong nation and it is through them that we will become strong. And it is our mothers that ensure that the importance of family is upheld. There is no greater enforcer of morality than our mothers and we will ensure they have the power and rights to make our society great.
In most debates these days, phrases are bandied around as if there is a consensus to their meanings. It's as if, when we say "terrorist", "democracy", "human rights", "women's rights" or "freedom of expression" that we all know what that means. But ask people to articulate what women's rights means to them and you will have multiple ideas. So the above is my beginning this post with what I believe to be women's rights. But women's rights has to be understood in the context of the society you are talking about. It cannot be looked at in isolation and assumed that women want, have or need the same sort of rights the world over. One thing is always mentioned is that there should be equality of men and women. But in a society like Libya where the people DO make a distinction between the roles of men and the roles of women (especially women themselves), equality there does not mean the same as the West for example. And the vast majority of women in Libya are happy and accepting of that. Therefore, the phrase that applies best to a society like Libya is that women are equals - in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the law (e.g. a crime is equally as bad whether committed by a man or woman and the punishment for that crime is the same) - but different.
Let's look at a simple example. From above "That they have full rights to their own wealth and that no man has any rights upon that wealth.". Now this is not workable in the West. We see in many divorce cases in the UK that if the woman happens to have the most wealth, her estranged husband has some rights to it. But that is because, in British society, a woman does not have the right to expect that it is her husband's duty to feed, clothe and shelter her. But this is an essential part of Libyan (and Islamic) society. So the context of the society we live in shapes how the rights of all people are determined.
In a society where the goal of every woman is to become a wife and mother and that of every man is to provide for his wife and children, will there be many career-minded women? Of course not. But does that mean our girls should receive a sub-standard education in comparison to their male peers? Again, of course not. In fact, it is of utmost importance that the girls receive equal if not better education. As I have stated previously, it is mothers who shape the morality of society and education only enforces morality and not undermine it.
I want to finish this post on an angry note. I, as an Arab, Muslim, Libyan man, am getting extremely frustrated with the filthy reputation that we have been branded with. We are all polygynous, wife-beating, child abusing beasts! We look at women as nothing but housemaids during the day and prostitutes at night. These lies have to stop! It is not an excuse to say that the actions of a few taint the reputation of the majority. Because we do not sit around labelling European men as incestuous sexual predators (Josef Fritzl???) or wife beating maniacs (Gazza et al), or adulterers. I am willing to bet a lot of money that the reputation that has been branded upon us Arab men is more applicable to Western men than us. And yet we seem to find it easy to ignore the actions of Baby P's parents as a one-off, or that crimes of Chris Brown as unique. So people who accuse Libyans, Arabs and Muslims of these disgusting crimes have to place their own society on trial first and determine how innocent they would be. Good and evil exists everywhere and no one people have a monopoly on either. So don't you dare label us with the filth that you claim. And if you wish to continue - speak to me.
Reda
p.s. On a different note, the great-nephew of the previous King of Libya wants to bring back the monarchy. Seriously, how arrogant is this fella? I know the people do not have an appetite for this, which I am grateful for. However, this man disgusts me. He still calls himself Prince. Arrogant!
great article...coming from a Libyan man I must admit I am thoroughly impressed by your openness and courage of discussing such a delicate situation of our Libyan women and what lives we have held due to a society of ignorance to say the least..
ReplyDeleteSalam