This is a nation in turmoil as their leader of more than 40 years struggles to cling to power, just 200 kilometres to the west. Benghazi was the first city to fall to opponents of Gaddafi’s dictatorship. In recent weeks, this rebel stronghold has sought to establish itself as a credible and recognised alternative to the crumbling regime in the capital Tripoli. Since the uprising in February, we have seen images of ordinary Libyan men forced to quickly learn the art of warfare in their struggle for freedom and perhaps even democracy. What we seldom see, certainly on the front lines, are the mothers, wives and sisters of the fighters, tonight, a rare insight into the role of women in this revolution. REPORTER: Yalda Hakim It was this woman, Iman Al-Obeidi, alleging gang rape by Muammar Gaddafi's forces, who first drew the world's attention to the plight of women in Libya. This vision was filmed at a hotel in Tripoli as Iman Al-Obeidi attempted to give journalists details of what happened to her, while staff tried desperately to keep her quiet. FATHER (Translation): We hope to find out who did this, God willing Libya will be completely free and they will be brought to justice. In a Benghazi hotel room, Iman Al-Obeidi's father tells me about the first time he spoke to his daughter after her ordeal. FATHER (Translation): I asked if she was okay, she said yes, thank God. The Libyans are conservative, no father can ask his daughter how she was raped – it is between her and her mother. I can not talk about it with her. We did not think she would be released, we expected her to be killed – we expected them to kill her. Iman Al-Obeidi was led away from journalists and taken to prison. She was eventually released and weeks later managed to flee the country. FATHER (Translation): Her name is on everyone’s lips and she has become a symbol. Thank God – a symbol to all Libyan women. Iman Al-Obeidi is not alone. Many women have similar stories. I join Dr Leila and Dr Fazila in this camp for evacuees from the front line, as they distribute medicine to the women. The doctors suspect that there are a number of rape victims in the camp. DOCTOR: They are living in a denial situation. They deny it happened and we know that it happened. We have seen photos on mobile phones and we heard about it from some neighbours and nobody came forward and said that it had happened freely. We have been trying for days to get hold of rape victims, but it seems the doctors here are facing the same kind of problems that we are. People do not want to talk, it seems like the pressure is coming from some of the families and the men in the household are stopping the women from coming forward because of the social stigma. Even here we have had problems with some of the men questioning what we were filming, why we were filming. Compounding the problem are rumours, spreading around Benghazi, that mercenaries infected with HIV are responsible for these attacks. At a Benghazi hospital I meet Dr Siham. She says that in the last two months she has collected hundreds of claims by women that they had been raped by Gaddafi soldiers. DR SIHAM: Some women said they were kidnapped and put in a car and they have been raped in the car - in the soldier’s car. Some said they tie up their brothers and fathers and rape in front of them. It is very complicated. They are too scared. Some of them say that their husbands know what happened to them and their husbands left them. They live with their parents - some of them were completely abandoned by both families. Despite death threats from men defending their family's honour, Dr Siham wants to speak out and she plans to send a report to the UN. DR SIHAM: I think the Gaddafi militia do this to put fear into the people and I believe that anyone who is in good condition and good mental state will see cases like this, and they should not hide it, they should talk about it. They should encourage the women to talk about it and I'm sure that one day these women will appear on TV and will be able to talk about it one day. This week the doctors had a breakthrough. The investigation of rape as a weapon of war has now been officially taken up by the International Criminal Court. Salwa Digalil, is the only female member of the National Transitional Council, the political body representing liberated Libya. She is considered one of the most influential women in the country's rebel-held areas. SALWA DIGALIL (Translation): Women have played a vital role in the revolution together with the men from the start. Women were there from the start in the streets beside the men and now they are working beside the men in the hospitals, in nursing and rescue – there is no difference. She tells me that while war crimes committed by Gaddafi are significant her priority is shaping the new Libya. SALWA DIGALIL (Translation): There have been no social services in the last 42 years, the regime did not acknowledge social problems. Since the Transitional National Council was set up less than two months ago, this has diversified – 70 social service institutions have been announced, whether it’s for children, women, human rights or the environment. Salwa Digalil may hold a powerful position in the new government, but it is women like this who form the grass roots of this revolution. Day after day these mothers, wives and daughters gather outside Benghazi's court house, demanding answers to the disappearance of their male relatives. Now the sea of faces forms a symbolic shrine honouring those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Libya's second largest city. 83-year-old Noura Jibreel was born when the monarchy was in power, and has spent more than half her life under the Gaddafi dictatorship. NOURA JIBREEL (Translation): He is an unjust dog, a thief and a killer – he and his sons are devils – he has destroyed us. God willing, we can be free now – burn Muammar’s page and open a new page full of peace, honesty, dignity and life. If he stays any longer, women and men will lose their lives. The streets of Benghazi saw the opening skirmishes of this war, now liberated, Benghazi is a haven for those evacuated from cities like Ajdabiya and Misrata, where fighting continues. This woman, too afraid to give her name, fled Misrata with her seven children. She left behind her husband and son to fight with the rebel army. We gave them our satellite phone so they could make contact. WOMAN (Translation): Peace be with you Nasser, how are you? How are things there? Nasser, they say there have been attacks – how is Muhammad – I want to talk to him – don’t let him go to the front line! The memories of their escape to Benghazi are still fresh. WOMAN (Translation): When we left at 6p.m. we were under rocket attack, we did not know where the rockets would fall, they were right over head – it was black with smoke. We never thought we would leave our home in Misrata – those who left before the army came were safe, those who stayed – God knows! REPORTER: So is there any news of the women who have been left behind? WOMAN (Translation): Rapes and kidnappings really did happen - none of what you heard was a lie. Merciful God, let us defeat our enemies. Let Muslims win, O God our rescuer. Let Muslims be united – God is great…. God is greater than him, God is greater than the unjust. God is greater than the powerful and the aggressors. All over Benghazi I find rage and grief, Nazia and her sister lost four members of their family as they fled Misrata. NAZIA (Translation): Must Libya be destroyed by one man – there is no other god but God! Sufficient unto me is God – he destroyed us – we are in a miserable state thanks to him! We don’t eat or drink because of what we are going through I swear! Tell him it is unfair that his people are being destroyed. If you….but it’s not his people – I don’t know what he belongs to. Nazia’s sister was badly injured when their house was destroyed by rockets. NAZIA (Translation): Other families are in a worse situation than my sister, please tell the Alliance to do more. That’s it, we have had enough of him, we have had enough! I visited the Benghazi mental hospital where the intake of patients has tripled since the war began. I was introduced to this woman, but she was too disturbed to make any sense. Like many other women, she is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. PROTESTOR (Translation): We will not close our eyes or sleep while this tyrant is on the rampage – killing and destroying. Each day the streets of liberated Benghazi are filled with women's voices. Refusing to be silenced, they stand side by side with the men in the struggle to bring down the Gaddafi regime. SALWA DIGALIL (Translation): Libya will change for the better. Why did the revolution happen – to improve the bad condition of the country. DR SIHAM: I think we're helping each other to love each other. This revolution has changed everybody. The sisters of the revolution, staking their place in what may become the new Libya. That story shot by SBS cameraman, Ryan Sheridan. And our website has an interactive guide to the crisis here in North Africa and the Middle East, plus you can replay all of this year's stories from the region. And there is a behind-the-scenes look at putting together this week's programme fromLibya. Reporter YALDA HAKIM Camera RYAN SHERIDAN Producer VICTORIA STROBL Fixers MAHA REDA AMAL EL RAMLI FAISAL BLKEER Editor MICAH MCGOWN Translations/Subtitling SUHEIL DAUMONY ZAINAB ABDUL-NABI DALIA MATAR Original Music composed by 22nd May 2011
VICKI HANSEN