iKNOW Politics: How have you overcome any obstacles that were posed by religious or cultural claims?

First of all, I would like to assert that a woman’s engagement in politics and occupancy of decision making posts, particularly in societies that have only known patriarchy, where only men occupy centers of decision making, is very difficult. I am one of those who believe in the necessity to challenge such norms. Since my return in 1994, I have always insisted, during conferences or any other congregations, that seating for men and women not be segregated. And so I would always sit amongst the seats reserved for men to make this point and eventually they became used to my presence among them and this tradition is no longer upheld in one of the most conservative cities in Palestine.

I was also very politically active. I am a member of Fatah and have held very high positions and was the first woman to be elected as Secretary of Province. To reach this position requires a lot of effort as well as other supporting factors such as education, economic independence and support of one’s family. I was also elected by votes coming only from men.

Work in the political sphere requires a lot of strength, will power and never giving up in the face of obstacles or allow hardships to sway you or force you to give up your position. When we began speaking about women’s issues, I was faced with strong opposition but I did not give up. Instead, I was clear and assertive and argued that discrimination between men and women is not part of any religion and those that claim so have based their arguments on misinterpretation of religious doctrine. In our society it is important to begin by removing the holiness surrounding customs and traditions to allow people to begin an open and enlightened debate of the issue. It is very difficult to accomplish this but I have successfully used this tactic in several contexts. While I was not disrespectful of others’ opinions, I remained steadfast to my views and was able to convince people.

I began work in politics in 2006 when I was first elected to parliament. I have been known as a strong person, who refuses to compromise her causes, which include the advancement of women’s rights. I am there whenever there is a need for me and do not rest as long as there is a job to be done and there are still a lot of challenges for women that need to be addressed. About a month ago I was coming out of a conference and a woman came up to me and said “we love you. The whole city loves you”. This assures me that I’m working in the right direction in terms of solving peoples’ problems.

In the national legislature or parliament I have an office in this governorate and there are about 750,000 citizens and there is only one other colleague of mine in this area. Most individual and communal problems – and even those on the governorate level - come to me and I try to solve them.  I do not ignore or overlook any cases even if my response is negative. I also think that my work in civil society has helped me address the needs of my constituents.

I try to apply all my beliefs in my home. Within my family there is no difference between boy and girl.

iKNOW Politics: In your opinion, what impact has the Arab Spring had on women in your country and in the region as a whole?

What is called the “Arab Spring” is, in my opinion, a situation which had to occur – and it is an international phenomenon not just limited to the Arab region. I believe it will extend to all countries where democracy is compromised and people have access to modern communication tools and information technology. We are currently in a phase of transition which will continue for the next 10 years until these countries become secular democracies. I think this will happen all over the world and will usher in greater respect for human and women’s rights as well as the idea of preventive diplomacy and the dissolution of borders following the example of the European Union.

iKNOW Politics: How can the relationship between a parliamentarian and their constituents be strengthened?

It’s a very important relationship to maintain and requires that the parliamentarian remain in close contact with his constituents and aware of their troubles. It also requires commitment to beliefs that a parliamentarian must uphold and defend as well as the capacity to deal with issues with complete objectivity and without any emotional influence – while remaining sensitive to the plight of citizens. For women parliamentarians who continue to suffer from the prevalent patriarchal ideology that marginalizes women and overshadows their success, there is a challenge to prove themselves. I think that, in this context, quotas emerge as very important tools not just in parliament but across all decision-making bodies, such as the executive branch of Government, to give women the opportunity to participate and prove themselves. We must also change legislation and law to guarantee that women are not discriminated against.

iKNOW Politics: What role does information technology play in supporting women’s political participation?

Information technology and social media are very important channels of communication for any politician and have become part of the everyday lives of all citizens. As such, parliamentarians and other politicians must utilize these channels to communicate with constituents as well as the opposition. However, while no politician can ignore these tools today, they do not substitute the need for direct communication with citizens. Both must be maintained.

iKNOW Politics: What advice would you give young women who wish to enter the political sphere?

We’re not looking for the existence of sporadic cases of women in politics but rather wish to arrive at a place where women’s representation in politics duly reflects their roles in society. This requires a strong will, political will and the empowerment of women politically, economically and otherwise, in order for women to become effective partners in society.