Salwa Bugaighis
When protesters first gathered outside the courthouse in Benghazi calling for the end of the Libyan regime, among them were sisters Salwa and Amal Bugaighis. Salwa was a lawyer who even under the regime had been an outspoken voice for human rights. When Karama convened Libyan activists in Cairo in October 2011, Salwa was an obvious candidate.
At that meeting, Salwa would become a co-founder of the Libyan Women's Platform for Peace, and her political skills were central to much of its early success. Salwa would go on to serve in both the National Transitional Council and as deputy chair of the National Dialogue Commission. She was determined to build a peaceful, just and democratic Libya, even as the country's security situation deteriorated.
On 25 June 2014, Salwa urged her supporters in Benghazi to take part in the elections for the House of Representatives. As she returned from casting her vote, Salwa was gunned down in her own home. Her husband Essam was abducted by the assassins, and has never been seen since.
Salwa was not the only high-profile woman or activist to be silenced in Libya. Just weeks later, Fariha al-Berkawi, who had served as a member of the General National Congress, was assasinated in Derna. Activists like Tawfik Bensaud and Intissar al-Hassaeri were also murdered soon after.
The date 25 June remains freighted with heavy symbolism, as the date not only of Salwa's murder but the last general election to be held in Libya.
Ever since, activists from across the Karama network and the world have gathered under the slogan Justice for Salwa is Justice for All. We are determined to not only keep Salwa's memory alive, but to ensure her dream of peace, justice and democracy is finally realized. The camapign continues to hold events across the world to celebrate and commemorate Salwa, and has taken our campaign for justice to governments and international institutions.
In 2018, a Karama activists in the Netherlands took the Justice for Salwa campaign to their government. Their efforts saw the Salwa's case raised by the at the UN Security Council - the first time the murder of a woman human rights defender had been discussed in this forum.
Salwa's last message, posted 25 June 2014
Please wait and have patience until eight o'clock. They will not beat us and they will not thwart Benghazi’s electoral process. Be on time. Greetings to those who oversee the polling centers. Tell people...call your friends and your family…they must fight peacefully by using their votes.
I beg the people of Benghazi to head to the polling stations to protect them, to raise morale, and to encourage those in charge of them. I beg my people on all sides to stop the clashes for just three hours. I beg the youth to go and vote now.
My people of Benghazi, we must pray to God to give them patience, strength, and determination for a few hours where they will take an unforgettable stand for Benghazi and Libya. Go for the sake of our martyrs’ blood…go...They will not stop us from practicing our constitutional rights and our national duty.
Benghazi has challenges, as usual...but despite the pain, fear, and sadness, Benghazi will prove to everyone that it will not kneel or bow. It will continue to fight no matter the challenges and difficulties. We are determined to build the Libya we have always dreamed of.
Everyone must remember our martyrs whose sacrifice made it possible for us to enjoy democracy now. Participation has exceeded all international and local expectation…The international community is surprised that this proud city has stood its ground. I am filled with pride for my Benghazi and its people for their exceptional participation in the democratic process for Libya. We may become disappointed or get let down but we will never give up for Libya - no matter how long the struggle takes.
Please follow the electoral process to the end. Beware and take care if you are an elections observer. You must protect our votes.
I hope to protect the Supreme Court. People of Tripoli, please be on time. We must have human shields in front of the Court from nine o'clock.