Muslim Women In History

Alaa Murabit, founder of the Voice of Libyan Women organization, at a conference on the role of Libyan women in politics (AFP/File, Gianluigi Guercia)

“Women gave a lot of hard work to support the revolution, so why not enter the government now?” asked Samira Karmusi, who is running with the Justice and Construction Party.

The party brings together members of the Muslim Brotherhood with other Islamists and independents. Like most emerging parties, it wants to legislate in accordance with Sharia, or Islamic law.

Karmusi said the men in her party, most of them professionals and some like her husband former political prisoners, welcome women on board.

“We feel that we can do it, that we can make it,” she told AFP.

Najia Gajem, a university lecturer who is running as an independent candidate in the district of Ein Zara, says not all men are so open-minded.

“Many of them think that women and their opinions have to stay at home. When you want to change this concept, you have to struggle,” she said.

The two women are best friends and hope to become ministers or ambassadors.

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