General Rajaa Al-Shabbi likes to describe herself as a “free Tunisian” and her words have travelled the world through her poems about the late Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani and translated numerous poems by the late Tunisian poet Mohammad Al-Saghir Awlad Ahmad.

But Al-Shabbi is not a typical poet, she also happens to be one the few women in the highest ranking position in the Tunisian security forces. But it took her entire career to finally get to where she is, earning this title only months before her retirement.

General Rajaa Al-Shabbi likes to describe herself as a “free Tunisian” and her words have travelled the world through her poems about the late Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani and translated numerous poems by the late Tunisian poet Mohammad Al-Saghir Awlad Ahmad.

But Al-Shabbi is not a typical poet, she also happens to be one the few women in the highest ranking position in the Tunisian security forces. But it took her entire career to finally get to where she is, earning this title only months before her retirement.

 “Women in law enforcement are still marginalized,” she said, and complained that she was not fairly rewarded compared to her male coworkers, having often been deprived of promotions despite her seniority, hard work and education. “The dominant macho mentality still believes that leadership positions can only be filled by men.”

Despite her rank, Al-Shabbi has been subjected to sexual harassment. Before the revolution in 2011 Rajaa was repeatedly harassed by a higher ranking male officer who wanted to prmote her in exchange for sexual favors. She deflected his attempts until he was referred to obligatory retirement after the Tunisian Revolution.

Al-Shabbi fiercely defended her person throughout the years, yet, in most of these cases, the stories remain in the dark, as very few women are willing to come out and talk about such incidents.

Childhood dreams

As a child, Rajaa Al-Shabbi wanted to become a surgeon, but after an accident that nearly severed one of fingers, she set her sights on working in security.

After an interview test that was relatively easy for Rajaa along with arms training and other tests, she graduated first in her class and succeeded at joining the security forces. However, her road there was rough.

A martyr fell
A martyr killed
A martyr slain
and not a threat would turn us back.

Things changed after the revolution. Months before the sixtieth anniversary of the security forces, she was finally promoted to General after long years of depravation. However, although this promotion compensated Rajaa for years of ingratitude and unjust practices, it was considerably late since Al-Shabbi is only months away from retirement.

“I have had a professional life rich in experience and success,” she says. “But perhaps what agonizes me the most is that the Ministry of Internal Affairs still marginalizes law enforcement women and does not recognize their success and efficiency.”

A dream deferred

Although Rajaa is seeking to extend her contract with the ministry for one more year, so that her students at the Abu Shusha School for Legislative and Judicial Training, where she is a professor, might benefit more from her experience –  her request is still lying somewhere on a shelf in the administration. Rajaa wonders: “Does the Minister know what happens in the closed offices of the administration?”

If only partially, her writings and her poetry have given her some sense of satisfaction. After years of silence, Rajaa has recently become well-known and her poems can be read in many Arab countries and international literary events and festivals.

Recently, Al-Shabbi participated in the international book fair in Geneva, and she accompanied the dialogue quartet to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.