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Maya JribiTunisian politician
Date of Birth: 29.01.1960
Country:  Tunisia |
Content:
- Maya Jribi: Trailblazing Tunisian Politician
- Progressive Socialist Gathering
- Leadership of the PDP
- Republican Party
- Political Views
- Recognition and Legacy
- Awards and Honors
Maya Jribi: Trailblazing Tunisian Politician
Early Life and EducationMaya Jribi was born in Tunisia to a father from Tataouine and an Algerian mother. From 1979 to 1983, she studied at the Radès Tunisia before pursuing a degree in biology at the University of Sfax. During this period, Jribi became actively involved in student activism, joining the UGET student union and the Tunisian League for Human Rights. She penned articles for the independent weekly Erraïd and later for the PDP newspaper, Al Mawkif.
Progressive Socialist Gathering
In 1983, Jribi co-founded the Progressive Socialist Gathering alongside Ahmed Najib Chebbi. The party later evolved into the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP). From 1986 onwards, Jribi held leadership positions within the party.
Leadership of the PDP
On December 25, 2006, Maya Jribi became the Secretary-General of the PDP, marking the first time a woman had led a political party in Tunisia. In protest against the forced relocation of the party's headquarters from Tunis, Jribi and Ahmed Najib Chebbi embarked on a hunger strike from October 1-20, 2007, resulting in significant health consequences.
In 2011, Jribi headed the PDP's election list for the Ben Arous constituency in the Tunisian National Assembly elections. The party secured one parliamentary seat.
Republican Party
On April 9, 2012, the PDP merged with other secular parties to form the Republican Party, with Maya Jribi becoming its leader.
Political Views
Jribi was a vocal feminist. She labeled Israel as a "Zionist entity" and advocated for prohibiting Israeli pilgrims from visiting the El Ghriba synagogue on Djerba Island.
Recognition and Legacy
In 2018, Jribi was honored by the Center for Research, Training, Documentation, and Information on Women for her distinguished political career. Sadly, she passed away from cancer on May 19, 2018. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi described her death as the loss of a "sincere militant" and paid tribute to her personal and political qualities.
Awards and Honors
- Commander of the Order of the Republic (2015)- Knight of the National Order of Merit of Tunisia (2014)
