Libya: Graffitied over and covered up, Libyan women parliamentary hopefuls’ posters vandalised

Photo credit: Ghida Touati

With Libya’s historic parliamentary elections just days away, the streets of the capital Tripoli have been plastered with campaign posters. Yet walking around, a trend becomes apparent – many of those featuring female candidates have been destroyed while those of men are left largely untouched. Our Observer in Tripoli says that the vandalism may be a sign that many in Libya are simply not ready to see a woman in office.

 

Around 2.7 million Libyans are eligible to vote in Saturday’s parliamentary poll – the first free election the country has seen in decades. According to Ian Martin, head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), there are more than 600 women candidates on the ballot.

 

Read the complete story at France24, published 5 July 2012.