Asian media is reporting that what are described as “senior Muslim clerics” are forming a new political party to rule the country based on “moderate” Islamic laws. According to an ANI report:
Senior Muslim clerics in Libya are forming a new political party intending to rule the country on the “moderate” Islamic laws successfully used in both Turkey and Tunisia. Dr Ali al-Sallabi, the cleric seen as the figurehead of Libya’s Islamist movement, said in an exclusive interview with the Telegraph, a provisional manifesto had already won support from some of the country’s most important political and religious leaders. He said his movement supported basing Libya’s constitution on Sharia law, but that it would be moderate and pursue democratic politics on the model of similar parties in Turkey and Tunisia. “This is not an Islamist party but a nationalist party,” the paper quoted Dr Sallabi, as saying. “But its political agenda respects the general principles of Islam and Libyan culture,” he added. According to the paper, its provisional name, The National Gathering for Freedom, Justice and Development, is a nod both to Turkey’s ruling party, the Justice and Development Party, and that set up by the Muslim Brotherhood in neighbouring Egypt, the Freedom and Justice Party.Like those parties, and the Islamist Ennahda that won Tunisia’s first post-Arab Spring election, the party’s sole ideology is to win mass support. Al-Sallabi, who spent eight years Libya’s most notorious prison Abu Salim, also denied reports that he would stand for president himself but confirmed his long-predicted move into secular politics. (ANI)
A previous post recommended Israeli analyst Jonathan D. Halev’s article titled “Did The Libyan Leadership Deceive the West” in which he writes:
Qatari involvement is likely to produce a regime in Libya that follows the political orientation of Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi, thereby giving the Muslim Brotherhood an open door in the new Libya. The political debate in Libya will be within an essentially Islamist universe, with different leaders distinguished by the degree to which they seek to implement their Islamism. It seems that the strategy of the democratic states that trusted the promises of the rebel forces to adopt and implement the principles of democracy has collapsed, and that Western aid to overthrow Gaddafi’s tyrannical regime prepared the groundwork for the establishment of an Islamic state, which eventually may become hostile to the West.
Read the rest here.
A post from September reported on what the New York times called the “growing influence of Islamists in Libya”, identifying Qatari Muslim Brotherhood figure Ali Sallabi (aka Ali Salabi), already known to be the Revolution’s “spiritual leader and a close associate of Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi, as well as for the first time Abel al-Rajazk Abu Hajar who is said to lead the Tripoli Municipal Governing Council and is described as a “Muslim Brotherhood figure.”
An earlier post reported on Ali Sallabi and his association with Qaradawi who is known for espousing his view of moderate Islam. Qaradawi, a virulent anti-Semite is often referred to here as the most important leader of the global Muslim Brotherhood, an acknowledgement of his role as the de facto spiritual leader of the movement. In 2004, Qaradawi turned down the offer to lead the Egyptian Brotherhood after the death of the Supreme Guide. Based in Qatar, Sheikh Qaradawi has reportedly amassed substantial wealth through his role as Shari’ah adviser to many important Islamic banks and funds. He is also considered to be the “spiritual guide” for Hamas and his fatwas in support of suicide bombings against Israeli citizens were instrumental in the development of the phenomenon. A recent post has discussed a video compilation of Qaradawi’s extremist statements some of which have been discussed in previous posts including Qaradawi stating:
- Islam will conquer Europe through peaceful means.
- Hitler was divine punishment for the misdeeds of the Jews and that the Holocaust was exaggerated.
- He desires to end his life in the service of Jihad by visiting Israel and throwing a bomb, becoming a “martyr” in the process
- Calling for the death of all Jews.
- Calling for the collapse of the US if it doesn’t end its “unjust ways.”
The second collection contains various statements by Qaradawi on social issues such as discussing the killing of homosexuals and stating that beating is “suitable” for some wives.