Libya’s embattled PM promises new election law to resolve crisis
Al JazeeraMAR 11 2022
Libya will set up a Morality Police to monitor inappropriate public behavior, clothing, and hairstyles beginning in December. Interior Minister Imed Trabelsi reportedly said last week that Libyans' behavior, including on social, must align with the values of Libyan society.
Trabelsi said the Morality Police will prevent public gender mixing and ensure mandatory head coverings for women. Women will not be allowed to travel within Libya without a male guardian. People "seeking personal freedom should go to Europe," the minister reportedly said.
The Morality Police will reportedly be empowered to shut down non-compliant hookah lounges and hairdressers. Libya observers have reportedly said that the interior minister's proposed measures are a ploy to consolidate his power and reiterate his relevance.
Libya's proposed "morality police" threatens citizens' fundamental freedoms, especially targeting women’s autonomy and equality. Steps such as compulsory veiling of young girls, enforcing male guardianship for traveling, and policing personal choices dangerously intensify restrictions on freedom of expression, privacy, and self-determination.
Libya aims to safeguard traditional values, focusing on curbing Western influences, social media trends, and behaviors seen as threats to cultural identity. Many citizens support the planned measures to defend against globalization, reinforce social standards, and strengthen Libya's cultural identity amid societal shifts.