Libyan scholar says draft election law fails to establish a healthy democratic climate

A member of the General Secretariat of the International Union of Muslim Scholars has criticised the draft election law produced by Libya’s National Transitional Council. Sheikh Ali Al Salabi told Quds Press that the draft fails to establish a healthy democratic climate and does not reflect the goals of the revolution.

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“I believe that the draft issued by the National Transitional Council for electing a National Assembly has many fundamental shortcomings,” said Sheikh Al Salabi, “and so it can’t secure a proper transition to democracy.” The bill includes many articles which, claims the Sheikh, “reinforce tribalism and limit the participation of women in the National Assembly.” According to Sheikh Al Salabi, “this is an undemocratic violation against women, who were a key partner in the 17th of February Revolution – as mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, if not through jihad in the field”.

He called on the National Transitional Council to reject the bill because “it does not accord with the Constitutional Proclamation, and it violates citizens’ right to form political parties”. Expressing his hope that the NTC will listen to civil society, the elite, political leaders and the Libyan people, he said that those responsible for drafting the election law need to be a little more humble and learn from those with democratic experience. Al Salabi cited the closest examples of Tunisia and Egypt.

The National Assembly in Libya is to have 200 members, as per the Constitutional Proclamation issued last August, with 10% of the seats allocated for women. The Proclamation requires members to be elected in a free general election.