The social construction of suicide in Libyan society

The aim of this study is to explore how the suicide act is constructed and evaluated in Libyansociety. The methodology includes an analysis of 172 prosecutors' files covering the periodfrom 2000 to 2009 which exist in the sub-public prosecution departments. These concerncases of those who succeeded in committing suicide and of those who tried to commitsuicide but were unsuccessful. The study also includes semi-structured interviews withofficials (including prosecutors, law enforcement officers and medical practitioners) in orderto examine and explain the part played by officials in the social construction of suicide.Findings indicate there are distinct ways in which suicide in Libya is socially constructedand this varies depending upon the perspectives of officials, witnesses and the person whohas taken their life. The current study reveals important factors which are trusted by officialsto inform their decisions about suicide verdicts. These include:- medical evidence, thecrime's theatre, witnesses' statements, mode of death, the biography of the deceased, suicidenotes and threats to commit suicide, and finger prints.The interpretation of suicide by officials may be summarised by the following themes: -life's problems, religious weakness, psychological illnesses, and escaping from the currentsituation.Witnesses construe the meaning of suicide along the following lines:- study problems,physical illnesses, religion, psychological illnesses, self blame, and escape from currentsituation. However, for those who have taken their life or attempted to take it, suicide maybe evaluated in terms of the following themes - self blaming, frustration, escape, emotionalblackmail, and revenge.An important theme of the thesis is to demonstrate that people construct the meaning ofsuicide according to the cultural contexts they are placed in. The examination of suchconstructions has the potential to reflect broader social anxieties in a particular society suchas the role of religious knowledge in a secular state.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral (Level 8)

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Eljadei, EO

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1338234

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1338234