Tripoli, 9 January, . . .[restrict]2013:
Zawia Congressman Mohamed Al-Kilani has blamed the shortcomings of the legislature to the fact that men and women are not segregated in it. He was speaking during a debate in the General National Congress (GNC) yesterday, Tuesday.
Social media sites have paraphrased Kilani as stating “due to mixing inside the Congress Hall, which we will be held accountable for on Judgment Day, the unveiled sisters and the wearing of tight clothes, leads to the wrath of God, and for this Congress is not moving forward.”
Reactions to Kilani’s statements on social network sites have largely been uniform in condemning what he said. However, some have hailed his statements. Likewise, in the session some congress members applauded him.
Reaction has been muted both from Congresswomen and leading women’s groups, unlike last August when at the opening ceremony of Congress presenter Sarah Elmesallati, was forced by Mustafa Abdel Jalil to withdraw from the proceedings after a complaint from Misrata representative Salah Baadi, that she was not wearing a headscarf. Both men came in for considerable criticism.
Kilani’s statement came within the context of comments on Congress’ image. He also questioned the postponing of the Political Isolation Law which would bar Qaddafi-era figures and which he cited as reason for the storming and attacking of Congress. Addressing his fellow members, Kilani said: “do you want shabab from the Supreme Security Committee and rebels to barge in and hit you again? Do you only understand by being beaten?”
Al-Kilani faults Congress’ legal committee for the delays in passing of the isolation law. [/restrict]
