On Thursday, Libya’s Presidential Council has officially launched a Public Morality Protection unit, sparking widespread debate and backlash. The newly formed unit aims to enforce public moral standards and safeguard Libya’s cultural identity, but many see it as a move that threatens personal freedoms and could increase government control over daily life.
Headquartered in Tripoli, this new unit has a broad mandate. According to the council’s announcement, the Public Morality Protection unit will oversee cultural activities, monitor summer camps, and regulate public events organized by both government and private entities. It will also be tasked with identifying and curbing behaviors considered contrary to Libyan cultural values, sparking concerns over the potential impact on social freedoms.
This move comes after recent statements by Emad Trabelsi, Libya’s Minister of Interior in the Government of National Unity. Trabelsi emphasized the need to revive a morality police force to address what he described as “moral corruption” seen both in public spaces and on social media. According to Trabelsi, the unit will impose stricter guidelines on public behaviors, requiring women to wear headscarves, restricting modern youth hairstyles and clothing styles, banning gender mixing in public areas, and imposing new limitations on women’s travel.
Trabelsi argued that these steps are necessary to protect Libyan cultural identity and counter what he views as a growing erosion of social values. However, the announcement has met with strong reactions from various segments of Libyan society, as well as from international human rights groups.
The proposal has deeply divided Libyan public opinion. Supporters argue that it will help curb moral laxity, strengthen social discipline, and preserve traditional values, while critics warn that it could restrict personal freedoms, erode human rights, and open the door to widespread surveillance and control. Rights groups and activists argue that this move could lead to increased repression under the guise of moral protection, with women especially affected by restrictive dress codes, travel limitations, and restrictions on public presence.
International organizations have also voiced concerns. Amnesty International issued a strong condemnation of Trabelsi’s proposed measures, labeling them as “threats” to fundamental freedoms and an “alarming escalation of repression” in Libya. Amnesty called on the Government of National Unity to reverse these “repressive measures” and urged authorities to prioritize human rights protection and address Libya’s humanitarian crises.
Libya’s efforts to enforce public morality through official units have surfaced periodically under past administrations but were often met with limited success and notable resistance. In Libya’s conservative society, many support initiatives aimed at preserving cultural traditions, while others advocate for greater individual freedoms. The current initiative reflects this ongoing tension but also arrives in a politically complex context.
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been in a state of political flux, with shifting authorities and multiple factions vying for power. As the country seeks stability, rights advocates worry that initiatives like the Public Morality Protection unit could be used to consolidate power and exert social control under the pretense of cultural preservation. Critics argue that this could worsen existing challenges to freedom of expression, especially for women, by imposing dress codes, limiting their movement, and regulating public life.
