Leila ben Khalifa becomes first woman to run for Libyan presidency

Leila ben Khalifa, an activist who heads the National Movement party, became the first woman to run in the presidential elections in Libya on Monday after she submitted her papers to run in the election, according to Arabic-language media. Over 65 candidates have applied to run in the elections.

During a meeting with US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland last week, Ben Khalifa called for the return of Jews to Libya to participate in the political process, saying “We have wronged them and took away their rights since 1969 and we have to return them,” according to the Libyan 218TV.