Hariri’s death should salvage Lebanese women’s rights

BEIRUT - Maysam Ali

March 2005

Reports and pictures of the last minutes of late premier Rafik Hariri show him talking to a group of women, one of them an AUB alumnus, Lamia Osseiran. When inquiring about what the conversation was about, the women activists said that they presented Hariri with their demand of the need to allocate a women's quota in the coming parliamentary elections. Hariri expressed his preliminary approval, saying that the project should be further studied and shaped.

This editorial doesn't aim at praising the deeds of Hariri. It intends, however, to highlight his receptive manner of seeing a greater participation of women in public life. Hariri may not be classified as a one time champion of women's rights, but he certainly entertained such ideas more than most other politicians in Lebanon.

During his tenure as premier, Hariri was all but a male chauvinist. Many of us had disagreements with his socioeconomic perspectives, but none of us could accuse him of trying to relegate the role of women in public life to the back seat. With his death, women activists certainly felt that they have lost an alibi.

Hariri’s contribution to building post-civil war Lebanon was enormous. Analysts believe that Hariri’s contribution to a strong and safe Lebanon did not end with his death. On the contrary, his murder marked the beginning of the end for the Lebanese police state. The story of Hariri’s death looks like old legends when the god dies and his death becomes the sacrifice that saves his followers after him.

In Lebanon, Hariri died so that a free Lebanon can live. Hariri’s memory will live in Lebanese history as the saviour of Lebanon from the tyranny of secret police to the safety of freedom and independence.

As a woman activist, and on behalf of all Lebanese defenders of women’s rights, I plead onto leaders of the coming independence to live up to Hariri’s memory and integrate women’s rights as a fundamental requirement for a free Lebanon. Hariri died to save not only independence, but women’s rights as well. Let’s all remember that lest that the death of one of the greatest men in Lebanese history go in vein.

Maysam Ali is a Political Studies sophomore student and the President of SRC FAS.