Libyan expats in UAE vote for constitutional assembly

About 400 Libyans from the UAE and the Gulf have registered to vote to elect an assembly to draft the country's constitution.

Libyan expatriates in Dubai casting their ballot to elect an assembly to draft the country’s constitution. Jeff Topping/ The National

DUBAI // Leila Ali Gilani believes a new constitution in Libya will help to bring democracy and much needed peace to her homeland.

And to play her role in the process, she cast her vote at the Libyan consulate in Dubai on Saturday, with hundreds of her countrymen, to elect an assembly to draft the country’s constitution.

“The security situation and everything else is bad in Libya now,” said Ms Gilani. “We need peace to protect democracy. The new constitution is good for the country.”

The UAE is one of 13 countries where Libyan expatriates can cast their ballot to elect the 60-member constitutional assembly that will draft the new constitution. Kuwait is the only other Arabian Gulf state where they can vote.

Online registration to vote began in December and ended on February 10. “All Libyans overseas were allowed to select a polling station from the 13 countries. About 400 from the UAE and the Gulf have registered to vote,” said Majda Annaihum, the national adviser for out-of-country voting in Libyan elections.

The elections in Dubai and other overseas polling stations are being held before the vote in Libya itself, which is on February 20. Counting, however, will take place on Thursday and coincide with the process in Libya.

Once elected, the new members have 120 days to prepare the constitution, which would then be offered for approval in a referendum. The constitution, if approved, will help Libya move towards democracy, more than two years after long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi was ousted and killed.

Despite the time taken to draft the constitution, expatriates such as Dr Adnan Husnein are willing to wait patiently for the transition to democracy.

“Something as important as the constitution cannot be taken care of in a short period of time,” said Dr Husnein, who came from Abu Dhabi to vote.

“We have just come out of 42 years of dictatorship. There is a sense of urgency but, as far as the constitution goes, I am all for giving it as much time as possible. We need to think deeply and carefully. It is not something that we will visit every year.”

Dr Husnein, an assistant professor of urban planning at Al Hosn University in Abu Dhabi, hoped the new constitution would guarantee participation of all citizens.

“It should address points that will guarantee ownership, solidify notions of democracy and freedom of expression.”

Many Libyans such as Abdul-Fattah Dandi came from other Gulf countries to participate in the electoral process.

“I want to do my national duty,” said Mr Dandi, who works in a petroleum export company in Kuwait.

“This is the course for our future. I don’t mind if it takes time. It is a major step.”

He voted for a candidate he believes will help keep Libya together.

“We need Libya to be united. This was why we had a revolution.”

Expatriates said they were voting for change so they could return to help rebuild their homeland.

“We are all looking at ways to get back and help Libya,” said Milad Al Turki, an Islamic Studies teacher with a government school in Abu Dhabi and a UAE resident since 1985.

“I want the constitution to include freedom of expression, separation of powers and a constitution that stresses justice, education and health.”

Mr Al Turki said the four-month deadline set to draft the constitution was not enough.

“We need at least one year. A period of 120 days is not enough when we have just come out of 42 years of dictatorship.”