Selling oil across Libya

Chapter 88 I Love You

Libya's judicial system retains some Libyan traditions while incorporating modern legal principles, achieving a balance between tradition and modernity to the greatest extent possible.

Many Libyan traditions are still worth preserving, such as the prohibition against stealing, lying, adultery, shortchanging customers, bullying the weak, respecting parents, obeying the law, and speaking out for justice even if it is detrimental to one's own relatives.

In terms of the severity of punishment under modern law, some illegal acts in Libya are punished too severely. For example, lying is a serious offense in Libya, and even "white lies" will be severely punished by law.

As for adultery, although Libya doesn't resort to stoning to death like some of its brotherly countries, the starting sentence of ten years is enough to deter most people.

Libyan law does not strictly regulate certain traditions, such as religious beliefs.

Freedom in Libya includes not only political, economic, and intellectual freedom, but also freedom of personal belief. The Libyan government does not restrict Libyans from choosing any religion.

Alternatively, one can choose not to worship gods, but instead worship one's own ancestors.

The Libyan government strictly upholds freedom and equality.

Therefore, Libyan law applies not only to Libyan nationals, but also to foreign workers in Libya, tourists visiting Libya, and diplomats from various countries who have a certain degree of "diplomatic immunity" stationed in Libya.

If you don't accept the constraints of Libyan law, you don't have to come.

Nobody asked you to come.

Once you arrive, you must abide by Libyan law, or you will be severely punished under Libyan law.

Even the president's pleas were ineffective.

Recently, Leon Reed, deputy general manager of Eni's Libyan branch, and his secretary developed an office romance.

Reed was married and was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Although the secretary escaped imprisonment by virtue of being unmarried, the public flogging of 100 strokes still nearly killed her.

While Zhang Yuan and Liu Yun were buying wine, Faris and Aisha once again reached a crossroads in their fate.

Faris's father had four wives, and because he did not want to divorce any of them, Faris moved his family to France before Benghazi was occupied.

After becoming President of France, Hollande fulfilled his campaign promises by strengthening the management of refugees and helping them integrate into France as quickly as possible.

Faris's family moved into a tent set up by the French government for refugees, where they are well-fed and clothed with the help of charitable organizations.

"We're perfectly fine living here, why would we want to go to France and live in a tent?"

Aisha was adamant that she did not want to go to France.

"If we go too, we can apply for a new tent."

Faris faced hardship; going to France had always been his dream.

"Then your father will seize our tent, drive us out, and leave us homeless."

Aisha smiled gently, her face radiating maternal glow.

Aisha's due date is in two months.

Faris lowered his head and after a long while, he weakly said, "It shouldn't be... like that."

"Will we still be able to eat fresh steak when we get to France?"

You don't actually believe that the food charities provide to refugees includes fresh steak, do you?

Aisha took out her phone, found Eleanor's latest video, and clicked to play it.

In the video, Eleanor is visiting a refugee home, where food distributed by a charity is laid out on the table.

It looks pretty good, packaged cookies and packaged water.

"These foods are nearing their expiration date;"

Although past its expiration date doesn't necessarily mean it's rotten or spoiled, they still need to eat it as soon as possible, since they don't have refrigerators and their food can't be stored for long.

When they reached the next tent, which wasn't very big, it was packed with 15 people. Eleanor didn't go in.

When the children in the tent saw Eleanor, they rushed out, surrounded her, and stretched out their hands, hoping that Eleanor would give them some money.

Eleanor tried to leave, but she was surrounded by the children and couldn't get away.

As more and more children gathered around, Eleanor had no choice but to ask the military police, who were ostensibly there to maintain order but were actually just watching the spectacle, for help.

"Get out of here! You ugly pigs!"

The military police, brandishing their batons, shouted insults that reached Faris and Aisha's ears clearly through the loudspeaker.

"I don't want our children to be beggars. I want them to go to school and work in a bright and clean office, instead of rotting in a slum."

Aisha's maternal instincts were overwhelmed, and her eyes filled with tears.

A message suddenly appeared on the screen: The blogger you follow has updated their status.

Aisha clicked on Eleanor's latest video.

The video was filmed inside the police station, showing a row of women squatting on the ground in a panic.

"In one operation, Lyon police dismantled an illegal group that provided sexual services to refugees;

Police conducted physical examinations on these sex workers and discovered horrific diseases in many of them;

This is terrifying; many of them aren't even adults yet…

As Eleanor narrated, the camera panned across the girls' faces one by one.

Aisha suddenly saw a familiar face—Faris's father's third wife.

If Faris hadn't eloped with Aisha, Aisha would have become Faris's father's fourth wife.

Aisha paused the video and handed it to Faris: "Look at this. Do you want me to end up like your father's wife, providing sexual services to strange men?"

Faris was incredulous and speechless.

"If you really want to go to France, you can go, I won't stop you."

I will not go to France; I will stay in Libya. I want my child to grow up in a healthy environment, and even without a father, I will raise him to be a decent man.

Aisha completely lost control of her emotions and burst into tears.

Faris embraced Aisha and comforted her gently, saying, "I will never leave you. Wherever you are, I will be there. We will raise our child together."

"Really?"

"real!"

"I love you!"

"Me too!"

Faris looked around and finally let go of his obsession.

Last month, Faris bought an LCD TV to enrich Aisha's life.

The month before last, Faris bought a fully automatic washing machine so that Aisha could have an easier time with housework.

The month before last, Aisha changed all the curtains, Faris put up wallpaper in all the rooms, and Aisha sewn a cotton mattress for Leila's little nest.

Leila is growing up healthily and is the joy of Faris and Aisha.

The grapevines in the yard have already started to bear fruit, and in a while, we can use the grapes we grow at home to entertain guests.

The hospital where Faris and Aisha work offers excellent benefits, including up to eight months of paid maternity leave for Aisha and a childcare allowance, and Faris also receives three months of paid leave.

Compare this to the life of Faris's father in France.

Staying in Libya doesn't seem so bad.