IPTISAM AXFİR

Benghazi –Libyan women journalists still see a light at the end of the black and dark era. Since 2011, the world has witnessed what has happened in Libya and the journalists become the most important witnesses by reporting from the country. Libyan women journalists participated in a meeting held for women journalists in Libya to discuss what women journalists have faced, the problems for being women and the stage of journalism in Libya.

Journalist Hindiye El Ishebi: The number of women journalists is very low

Libyan journalist Hindiye El Ishebi told us that Libyan journalists choose interesting and different issues to report, their journalistic skills in writing and speaking are not less than their photography skills. She stated that most journalists need training, “The number of women journalists is very low in Libya and this causes women journalists to be rejected by press outlets.”

“Some journalists don’t know their rights”

Hindiye-El-Ishabi highlighted that women journalists should pay attention to the laws to learn their rights and she criticized some journalists to not know their rights, “Some journalists don’t know their rights. Even if they know their rights, they don’t struggle for implementation of their rights.”

“There is a problem of freedom in all parts of life, not just in the journalism”

Hindiye El Ishabi stated that journalism is a very hard profession in Libya but it is harder for women journalists;

“Now, the press has no freedom. There is a problem of freedom in all parts of life, not just in journalism. If the laws and foundation of a state are not based on freedom, it would not be wrong to say that there is a problem of freedom in all areas of life.”

Hindiye El Ishabi stated that laws limit journalism in her country and that they will not overcome the limits as long as they cannot overcome the problems against the freedom of the press.

Libyan News Agency reporter Salima: “Arab women have existed in the press for 125 years”

Libyan News Agency reporter Salima El-Khaifi also shared her thoughts with us.

“Arab women have existed in the press for 125 years but they have faced many difficulties until now. Libyan journalists are actually professional journalists like their colleagues all around the world but they have faced many difficulties. They have faced social, economic, and political obstacles. According to my opinion, they report more about untold issues before 2011. In addition, the rate of access to news has increased among women in recent years, this is a positive step but insufficient.”

News editor Fatma Nasir: Restrictions on journalism must be lifted!

Fatma Nasir has worked as a news editor for one of the channels in Libya. “I am not pessimistic. The situation of Libyan women journalists is getting better. They learn and participate in business life more. These steps are progressive steps. But if the restrictions on journalism are lifted, this will take us to an even higher level. If the journalists keep insisting, the future of press freedom will be better. We should never allow our fears to prevent our pen.”