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Feruz
is a model youngster. She has a first degree (LLB) in Law. She uses her
time wisely and finds time for many activities. She is currently working
as a public prosecutor. She is also a singer who performs on the stage.
In addition to sports she studies Italian and French languages. She told
us she is a frequenter of the gym.
She was born in Arareb, Sahel, in 1982. She attended the first and
second grades in Sahel. Then, after independence she continued her
studies in “Natsnet,” “Harbegnatat,” and “Sema’etat” schools Asmara.
After passing in the national school leaving certificate exam (matrik),
she enrolled in the university. In 2006 she graduated with LLB degree in
law after five years of study. A short interview with Feruz follows.
When you were young, what did you want to become?
- I was a science student and I liked Biology, especially. But when I
joined the university in 2000, I chose to study law.
Why did you choose law? And did you like it?
-When I joined the university I had the chance to read some law books.
What’s more, books on crime used to fascinate me. So I wanted to study
law. I liked studying Law. The more I learned, the more I was attracted
to the subject and field of Law.
What have you gained from it?
-Studying Law mainly makes you a responsible person. Because you are
taught to weigh up things legally, you become careful before doing
things.
Where did you first start professional work? And where are you working
now?
- I stared work in the Central (Ma’ekel) Zone as an assistant judge.
Currently I am working in the Central Prosecutor’s Office as a
prosecutor.
What is the percentage of youth in crime? What are the main crimes
committed by them?
- In general we can safely say that the participation of the Eritrean
youth in crime is low. Here it is clear that the role of the community
is very positive and supportive. But this does not mean that there are
no crimes committed by the young. Most of the crimes committed in our
country are done by the youth. The most common crimes are: stealing,
cheating, robbery, etc.
In your view, how can this be solved?
- Most of the youth who commit crimes have some problems. Their problems
may be of economic nature or ones that arises from personal
psychological stress. But these problems need to be solved in a proper
manner, such as work or other means. Otherwise, if a person turns to
crime to solve his/her problems he/she is getting into another bigger
problem.
Another matter, there need to come a change of behavior. Most of the
persons who commit crimes are not first-time offenders but repeaters.
So, when they are in prison there must be a way to change, educate and
rehabilitate them to become productive members of the society. This is
done in some level. But this must become the main task of the prisons
and it must be implemented with more dedication.
As a female prosecutor, how do you view the crimes perpetuated over
women?
- One of the crimes on women is rape. The first type of rape is: when a
man forces a girl or woman to have sex with him without her consent.
This may be done by forcing her physically or threatening her or by
putting her in a situation where she cannot defend or manage herself.
The second type is: when a man has sex with an underage girl. Here, it
is irrelevant whether she consents or not. The fact that she is underage
makes the man guilty by law. Her consent has no legal validity.
What should women do in order to avoid such problems of rape?
- Most of the rape crimes are committed at night in darkness. Most of
the victims are those who leave work late at night. So they must get
enough protection and cooperation from their families and employers.
Those who are victimized outside the factors of late work hours must be
careful themselves. They ought to choose hours and places which do not
put them at risk. But mainly, the people who commit such crimes must
have conscience. They should remember that these are their sisters and
fellow citizens.
What should a woman do if she faces the risk of rape?
- First, she should defend or protect herself as much as possible. When
she falls into the risk of rape attempt, she must search for ways to get
help. For example, crying or shouting. Thus the rapist may leave her or
other people may help or rescue her. Also, if the rape happens, the
people who heard or/and saw her can serve as witnesses in her case.
If a woman is raped, she must immediately report to the nearest police
station. This helps her to have the symptoms of rape recorded, and in
the absence of witnesses these symptoms (medical or visual) can help
prove the crime and punish the suspected or accused rapist. In addition
the victim can find medical support to prevent pregnancy, or other (STD)
diseases. But some women fail to report the rape to the police because
of shame, fear or risk of alienation. This is a big mistake and can lead
to bigger problems.
What are the other crimes or offenses that women face?
- Some girls or women are tricked into having sex with men with false
promises of marriage and then they get pregnant. Here, there’s something
that puzzles me. All creatures living in the world are beautiful. And we
women are the most beautiful ones. So, being a woman is more than
enough. If we add self-confidence to this we, women can achieve our
goals. We can make rational decisions confidently, and lead happy and
productive lives.
Many times women are fooled with men’s false promises, and this, I
believe, is due to low self-esteem. So I want to say this to them. In
our relationship with men let’s take ourselves as complimentary to them.
We are not incomplete people who need to serve them or depend on them,
but their equal and cooperative partners.
How do you advise young people to meet the problems they face at work?
- First we, the youth, ought to know our basic rights. For example, an
employee (worker) needs to know all the labor laws. Then when he or she
feels they have been wronged, they can fight for their rights according
to the law. Generally the concerned authorities must work hard to
educate the public about the law.
Your views concerning harmful tradition that ought to be abolished?
- We have many traditions that need to be abolished. One of them is FGM,
(female genital mutilation). The old public or traditional rationale for
this act is: circumcision controls or regulates the woman’s sexual
appetite. If we see this from the scientific point of view, sexual
feelings arise not from the particular organs but from the mind. So in
order to prevent a girl from becoming sexually wild, we need to
cultivate her mind (attitude) and not cut a part of her body.
In addition, shouldn’t the girl have legitimate sexual feelings? Because
she has the right to enjoy sexual satisfaction in the proper time and
place (in marriage.) But FGM is not only harmful to her health; it is
also abuse of her natural (bodily) rights. Currently according to
Eritrean laws, FGM is a crime punishable by law. So everyone should be
aware.
How do you relax?
– I watch films. I like to read especially, books on psychology and law.
I also enjoy listening to music and I sing too.
When did you start singing? When was the first time you sang on stage
holding a microphone?
- I enjoyed singing or repeating songs ever since I was still a young
child. At home, I used to hold a spoon and pretend it was a microphone.
In 1998 during the Independence Day celebrations I took part in the
youth mass sport (aerobics.) Then when we went to May-Habar for a
picnic, I saw the “Aser” Cultural Group (under the Ministry of
education) performing. At the time some of my girl friends who knew that
I liked signing, encouraged me to sing. Since I liked singing very much,
I asked them to allow me to sign and I sang.
What was the audience feedback then, and what happened next?
- When people came to cheer me, I was encouraged and convinced myself
that I could sing professionally. Later, in 2004, when I was studying at
the University of Asmara, I started singing professionally at the
“Hakose’e” (NCEW) stage, repeating English pop songs. In 2006 I sang as
a back-up vocalist in the late great Eritrean artist Abraham Afewerki’s
latest album “Semay”. I participated in four of the songs there.
When was your first public and official appearance as a singer?
- My first public or professional appearance was in 2007, during the
Independence Day celebration in the Asmara Stadium. I performed a number
entitled “Werki Mosob,” written by artist Habtom Yemane. After that I
sang a song in the Somali language about the unity of the Somali people.
I have prepared a song about FGM, and I have other works also.
What kind of songs do you enjoy?
- Songs are the means of communicating with the people and their
influence is great. So the message or theme in the songs (lyrics) needs
to be constructive. Personally, I do not like songs that focus on
revenge, (doing harm to those who have harmed you) or song with low
self-esteem (for example those who sentimentally dwell on poverty as a
weakness). Our songs should be vehicles for unity, high self-esteem;
boosting morale … I like those kinds of songs. As for me I want to write
songs that enhance the self-confidence of women.
Do you read newspapers and magazines” Which columns or parts do you
enjoy more?
- Yes, I do. In “Men’sey” (Youth) magazine for example, I like the part
about Law and Order. In the “Hadas Eritra” newspaper, I enjoy the column
“Hanti Alem” (One World.) I like other works of art dealing with the
youth in general.
Where or how do you spend your free time?
-I do not have mush free time. All the spare time I have, I spend in
studying (language such as French and Italian.) In addition I am taking
cooking lessons. Everyday I also exercise in the gym.
Many men do not prefer to choose educated girls/women for marriage. In
your opinion, why is this is so?
- I think this is mainly because of their lack of self-confidence. The
truth should be to the contrary: men should prefer educated women for
marriage. If a woman is educated she is a better partner. She can manage
her family life better and she is more productive economically. (By
working.) Even the children can benefit better when the woman is
educated.
Your comments about HIV/AIDS?
- As always: let us be careful, with all-sided care. In addition to
avoiding unsafe promiscuous sex, we should be careful about the sharp
instruments that we use in common. I feel we are often neglecting this.
In our manner of sensitization, for a long time we have only been
addressing a limited section of the society. For example, our
sensitization focuses on prostitutes, men who travel a lot due to their
work and people who engage in sex much. But we should inform and educate
people that any person can be infected with HIV. We have to take care
even about those people whom we consider safe or healthy.
I also believe that we have to pass to the stage where we should take
care of those people living with HIV/AIDS. Because most of the
sensitization and education programs we hold are addressing the stages
of pre-HIV/AIDS care.
Do you have any last comments and appreciation?
- I want to thank my family for helping and supporting me to reach this
level. I want to thank my mother Himan Tsegay, especially, who provided
me with everything.
The times we are living in are very dangerous and tempting.
Nevertheless, we, the young, have to challenge them. I want to say that
we should work hard and patiently to realize our goals and not be fooled
by temporary pleasures and enjoyments. |
