Maya Jribi
Encyclopedia
Maya Jribi is a Tunisia
n politician. Since 2006, she has been the Secretary-General of the centre-left liberal Progressive Democratic Party
(PDP).
From 1979 to 1983 Maya Jribi studied biology
at the University of Sfax
. During that time, she became an active member of the student union UGET and the Tunisian League of Human Rights. She wrote for the independent weekly Erraï and later for the PDP-newspaper Al Mawkif.
Together with Ahmed Najib Chebbi
, Maya Jribi was a co-founder of the Progressive Socialist Rally, established in 1983, which was later renamed into Progressive Democratic Party (PDP). Since 1986 she has been a member of the party's executive. On 25 December 2006, Jribi was appointed Secretary-General of the PDP. She has been the first woman to lead a political party in Tunisia. From 1 to 20 October 2007, Jribi, together with Najib Chebbi, engaged in a hunger strike to protest against the forced move of the party's headquarters from Tunis, which caused serious health implications for her.
Jribi headed the PDP’s electoral list in Ben Arous for the Constituent Assembly Elections in October, 2011. The PDP list received one seat in Ben Arous according to preliminary election results.
Maya Jribi is an outspoken feminist
. She has been accused of being anti-Jewish
for labelling Israel
as a "Zionist construct", and for her proposal to disallow Israeli pilgrims to visit the El Ghriba synagogue
on Djerba
island.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n politician. Since 2006, she has been the Secretary-General of the centre-left liberal Progressive Democratic Party
Progressive Democratic Party (Tunisia)
The Progressive Democratic Party , also referred to by its acronym PDP, is a secular liberal political party in Tunisia. It was founded under the name of Progressive Socialist Rally in 1983, gained legal recognition in 1988 and was renamed Progressive Democratic Party in 2001. Under the rule of Ben...
(PDP).
From 1979 to 1983 Maya Jribi studied biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
at the University of Sfax
University of Sfax
The University of Sfax is a university located in Sfax, Tunisia. It was founded in 1986 and is organized in 8 Faculties.The University of Sfax is a university based in Sfax ....
. During that time, she became an active member of the student union UGET and the Tunisian League of Human Rights. She wrote for the independent weekly Erraï and later for the PDP-newspaper Al Mawkif.
Together with Ahmed Najib Chebbi
Ahmed Najib Chebbi
Ahmed Najib Chebbi or simply Najib Chebbi is a Tunisian attorney and politician.Chebbi is a prominent figure of the Tunisian opposition movement; in 1983, he founded the Democratic Progressive Party, which gained legal recognition in 1988. He is currently the leader of the Democratic Progressive...
, Maya Jribi was a co-founder of the Progressive Socialist Rally, established in 1983, which was later renamed into Progressive Democratic Party (PDP). Since 1986 she has been a member of the party's executive. On 25 December 2006, Jribi was appointed Secretary-General of the PDP. She has been the first woman to lead a political party in Tunisia. From 1 to 20 October 2007, Jribi, together with Najib Chebbi, engaged in a hunger strike to protest against the forced move of the party's headquarters from Tunis, which caused serious health implications for her.
Jribi headed the PDP’s electoral list in Ben Arous for the Constituent Assembly Elections in October, 2011. The PDP list received one seat in Ben Arous according to preliminary election results.
Maya Jribi is an outspoken feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
. She has been accused of being anti-Jewish
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
for labelling Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
as a "Zionist construct", and for her proposal to disallow Israeli pilgrims to visit the El Ghriba synagogue
El Ghriba synagogue
The ancient El Ghriba Synagogue, , also known as the Djerba Synagogue, is located on the Tunisian island of Djerba. It is situated in the Jewish village of Hara Seghira, , several kilometres southwest of Houmt Souk, the capital of Djerba.-History:The synagogue is the destination of an annual...
on Djerba
Djerba
Djerba , also transliterated as Jerba or Jarbah, is, at 514 km², the largest island of North Africa, located in the Gulf of Gabes, off the coast of Tunisia.-Description:...
island.