Minister announces measures for compulsory veiling for girls as young as nine

Authorities must drop plans for wider crackdown on ‘morality’ grounds, which would further entrench discrimination

‘The Government of National Unity must scrap plans for these repressive measures and instead address the human rights crisis across the country’ - Bassam Al Kantar

Amnesty International has responded to an announcement made by Emad al-Trabulsi, Libya’s Tripoli-based Minister of Interior in the Government of National Unity (GNU) on Wednesday, detailing sweeping measures that would further entrench discrimination against women and girls and violate rights to freedom of expression, religion, belief, and bodily autonomy, including plans for “morality police” to enforce compulsory veiling.

Bassam Al Kantar, Amnesty International’s Libya Researcher, said:

“The Minister of Interior’s threats to crack down on fundamental freedoms in the name of ‘morality’ are a dangerous escalation in the already suffocating levels of repression facing those in Libya not adhering to dominant social norms.

“Proposals to impose compulsory veiling on women and girls as young as nine, restrict interactions between men and women, and police young people’s personal choices with regard to hairstyles and clothing are not only deeply alarming but also violate Libya’s obligations under international law.

“In a further attack on women’s rights and equality, the Government of National Unity’s Minister of Interior has proposed forcing women to seek the permission of male guardians before they can travel abroad and boasted about forcibly returning two Libyan women from Tunisia who travelled there without guardians. He has also announced plans for ‘morality police’ to monitor public spaces, workplaces, and personal interactions in flagrant violation of individuals’ privacy, autonomy, and freedom of expression.

“The Government must scrap plans for these repressive measures and instead address the human rights crisis across the country, characterised by mass arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture and unfair trials, and uphold the rights to freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, and take measures to combat all forms of gender-based violence and other discrimination.”

Cycle of human rights abuse

Amnesty has long documented how Libyan authorities have promoted and legitimised leaders of militias who have been responsible for crimes under international law, instead of ensuring accountability, enabling further cycles of abuse. Before Emad al-Trabelsi’s appointment by the Tripoli-based Government, he headed the notorious Public Security Agency militia, which was involved in horrific crimes against refugees and migrants, including enforced disappearances and torture.