Hajer Sharief an activist promoting human rights in Libya and beyond, says politics include decision making and ideally the process of decision-making should include people from different backgrounds, interests, opinions, gender, beliefs, race, ethnicity, age and so on.
Hajer who is also the co-founder of our national partner in Libya Maan Nabniha (Together We Build It), added “and they should all have an equal opportunity to contribute to the decision-making process and influence the decisions that will affect their lives directly or indirectly.”
Hajer expressed worry saying “the idea of politics and political engagement has become so polarised in many parts of the world that ordinary people feel, in order for them to participate in politics, they need to be outspoken activists and that is not true.”
Advising the young people and women who consider politics a dirty thing and keep themselves away from it, to participate in politics, Hajer says politics governs every aspect of life and by not participating in it, you’re literally allowing other people to write your destiny.
“Other people are also deciding on whether your race and ethnicity is enough to consider you a criminal, or if your religion and nationality is enough to put you on a terrorist list” she added.