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Political Killings Still Plaguing Post-Qaddafi Libya Political Killings Still Plaguing Post-Qaddafi Libya
(6 months later)
TRIPOLI, Libya — For Judge Jamal Bennour, one of the leaders of the Libyan uprising, the day the revolution turned sour was when his friend and fellow lawyer, Abdul-Salam al-Musmari, was shot dead in front of him. TRIPOLI, Libya — For Judge Jamal Bennour, one of the leaders of the Libyan uprising, the day the revolution turned sour was when his friend and fellow lawyer, Abdul-Salam al-Musmari, was shot dead in front of him.
It was last July, nearly two years after the two had helped topple Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi and a year since they had left government, ceding power to the General National Congress. The two friends had lingered after Friday Prayer in their mosque in Benghazi, and were walking home when a man leaned out of a passing four-wheel-drive car and shot Mr. Musmari in the chest. “It was just a moment,” his friend said. “We lost Abdul-Salam. It was very hard.”It was last July, nearly two years after the two had helped topple Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi and a year since they had left government, ceding power to the General National Congress. The two friends had lingered after Friday Prayer in their mosque in Benghazi, and were walking home when a man leaned out of a passing four-wheel-drive car and shot Mr. Musmari in the chest. “It was just a moment,” his friend said. “We lost Abdul-Salam. It was very hard.”
Libya has suffered widespread bloodletting in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution. Over 1,200 people have been killed nationwide in the last two years, victims of revenge, power clashes and spiraling crime.Libya has suffered widespread bloodletting in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution. Over 1,200 people have been killed nationwide in the last two years, victims of revenge, power clashes and spiraling crime.
Political divisions within the elected General National Congress, with groups backed by rival militias, have rendered the appointed government almost powerless. The power struggle kept Prime Minister Ali Zeidan under threat of dismissal for months before he was voted out of office on Tuesday, and left the country without an interior minister since August, when the last one resigned.Political divisions within the elected General National Congress, with groups backed by rival militias, have rendered the appointed government almost powerless. The power struggle kept Prime Minister Ali Zeidan under threat of dismissal for months before he was voted out of office on Tuesday, and left the country without an interior minister since August, when the last one resigned.
No place has been harder hit than the country’s second-largest city, Benghazi, the birthplace of the Libyan uprising. More than 100 prominent figures, senior security officials, judges and political activists have been assassinated in two years, and the wave of killings is decimating local leadership and paralyzing the government and security forces.No place has been harder hit than the country’s second-largest city, Benghazi, the birthplace of the Libyan uprising. More than 100 prominent figures, senior security officials, judges and political activists have been assassinated in two years, and the wave of killings is decimating local leadership and paralyzing the government and security forces.
Benghazi is the city where the United States ambassador, J. Christopher Stevens, and three other Americans died when the United States Mission and annex were attacked in September 2012. Residents have long complained about the lawless behavior of the numerous militias, including some extreme Islamist groups that maintain bases there, and some that played a role in the attack on the mission.Benghazi is the city where the United States ambassador, J. Christopher Stevens, and three other Americans died when the United States Mission and annex were attacked in September 2012. Residents have long complained about the lawless behavior of the numerous militias, including some extreme Islamist groups that maintain bases there, and some that played a role in the attack on the mission.
Some of the killings are also blamed on smuggling and organized crime groups, on the hundreds of common criminals who escaped from Colonel Qaddafi’s jails during the uprising and on the caches of looted weapons that are on the streets.Some of the killings are also blamed on smuggling and organized crime groups, on the hundreds of common criminals who escaped from Colonel Qaddafi’s jails during the uprising and on the caches of looted weapons that are on the streets.
Yet political assassinations have become so systematic that officials, legislators and activists from the region describe them as a concerted campaign to extinguish Libyans’ hope of building a stable, functioning, democratic nation. Mr. Musmari, the man killed last July, was the leader of the 17 February Coalition, a group of lawyers and activists who led the rebel government in Benghazi during the war.Yet political assassinations have become so systematic that officials, legislators and activists from the region describe them as a concerted campaign to extinguish Libyans’ hope of building a stable, functioning, democratic nation. Mr. Musmari, the man killed last July, was the leader of the 17 February Coalition, a group of lawyers and activists who led the rebel government in Benghazi during the war.
Three years after the revolution, many in the group have fled their hometown. “Most people have had to leave,” Judge Bennour said. “Most have left Libya to try and get political asylum.”Three years after the revolution, many in the group have fled their hometown. “Most people have had to leave,” Judge Bennour said. “Most have left Libya to try and get political asylum.”
Judge Bennour narrowly escaped an assassination attempt 10 days before Mr. Musmari was killed. He has since received so many threats on his cellphone that three months ago he left Benghazi and moved his family to Tripoli. He lives in hiding, separately from his family.Judge Bennour narrowly escaped an assassination attempt 10 days before Mr. Musmari was killed. He has since received so many threats on his cellphone that three months ago he left Benghazi and moved his family to Tripoli. He lives in hiding, separately from his family.
As time passes, the rate of killing in Benghazi is rising. Early victims were former security officials under Colonel Qaddafi. But increasingly, younger police officers are being targeted, said one Western diplomat, who asked not to be named in keeping with diplomatic protocol.As time passes, the rate of killing in Benghazi is rising. Early victims were former security officials under Colonel Qaddafi. But increasingly, younger police officers are being targeted, said one Western diplomat, who asked not to be named in keeping with diplomatic protocol.
Foreign consulates and expatriate workers have also been targeted in an apparent effort to scare away allies of the new Libya state, including diplomats and workers from neighboring countries such as Tunisia and Egypt.Foreign consulates and expatriate workers have also been targeted in an apparent effort to scare away allies of the new Libya state, including diplomats and workers from neighboring countries such as Tunisia and Egypt.
In just one recent week, seven Egyptian traders were abducted and executed, a French engineer was gunned down, and half a dozen Libyans were shot dead. More were wounded in failed attacks.In just one recent week, seven Egyptian traders were abducted and executed, a French engineer was gunned down, and half a dozen Libyans were shot dead. More were wounded in failed attacks.
When four or five Libyans were killed in one day, Benghazi residents protested on the streets, burning tires, and the judiciary announced it was suspending work.When four or five Libyans were killed in one day, Benghazi residents protested on the streets, burning tires, and the judiciary announced it was suspending work.
“Even during the war we did not stop working,” Judge Bennour said sadly. “The problem here is there is no army, no security. How can you ask the judges to work when you cannot protect them?”“Even during the war we did not stop working,” Judge Bennour said sadly. “The problem here is there is no army, no security. How can you ask the judges to work when you cannot protect them?”
He saw Mr. Musmari’s assassin fire his handgun from a distance of a few yards and said the killer had looked like an ordinary criminal — in his 30s, cleanshaven, wearing a T-shirt — but he seemed smart and well trained. Organized crime, Qaddafi supporters and Islamists all had an interest in seeing the revolution fail, he said.He saw Mr. Musmari’s assassin fire his handgun from a distance of a few yards and said the killer had looked like an ordinary criminal — in his 30s, cleanshaven, wearing a T-shirt — but he seemed smart and well trained. Organized crime, Qaddafi supporters and Islamists all had an interest in seeing the revolution fail, he said.
But those following the assassination campaign closely see it as an attempt to liquidate opponents among the local leadership, reminiscent of past campaigns by Al Qaeda and other extremists in the tribal areas of Pakistan and in Iraq.But those following the assassination campaign closely see it as an attempt to liquidate opponents among the local leadership, reminiscent of past campaigns by Al Qaeda and other extremists in the tribal areas of Pakistan and in Iraq.
“It is a systematic process to eliminate the building of a modern state,” said one Libyan congressman who sits on the National Security committee in Tripoli. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared the repercussions of speaking out against extremist groups.“It is a systematic process to eliminate the building of a modern state,” said one Libyan congressman who sits on the National Security committee in Tripoli. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared the repercussions of speaking out against extremist groups.
“These radical elements want to eradicate the security apparatus; in their mind, they want to live according to Shariah, they do not want a state with army and security forces,” he said, referring to Islamic law.“These radical elements want to eradicate the security apparatus; in their mind, they want to live according to Shariah, they do not want a state with army and security forces,” he said, referring to Islamic law.
Their method is terror, he said. “The more people you scare, then you are not going to have an army and police, and then you control the territory.”Their method is terror, he said. “The more people you scare, then you are not going to have an army and police, and then you control the territory.”
In the town of Derna, east of Benghazi, known as a center of culture, the most extremist groups are even targeting more moderate Islamists who support the democratic transition. Mansour Hasadi, a congressman from Derna for the Muslim Brotherhood’s Justice and Construction Party, remembers calling a local radio station to denounce an assassination in 2011, though the victim had been a member of the hated Qaddafi internal security.In the town of Derna, east of Benghazi, known as a center of culture, the most extremist groups are even targeting more moderate Islamists who support the democratic transition. Mansour Hasadi, a congressman from Derna for the Muslim Brotherhood’s Justice and Construction Party, remembers calling a local radio station to denounce an assassination in 2011, though the victim had been a member of the hated Qaddafi internal security.
“I condemned the killing,” he said. “I said we don’t want any killing outside the law, as Qaddafi did. Then it started escalating.”“I condemned the killing,” he said. “I said we don’t want any killing outside the law, as Qaddafi did. Then it started escalating.”
Mr. Hasadi said most assassinations in Derna were ideologically driven and committed by extremist groups who had always refused to join the other groups in the uprising. They have targeted the Muslim Brotherhood and the Justice and Construction Party, bombing their offices and their cars, he said.Mr. Hasadi said most assassinations in Derna were ideologically driven and committed by extremist groups who had always refused to join the other groups in the uprising. They have targeted the Muslim Brotherhood and the Justice and Construction Party, bombing their offices and their cars, he said.
Three months ago the threats increased against Mr. Hasadi after he made a series of media appearances. A speaker at a rally in the main square denounced him by name, saying he was opposed to Shariah law, effectively inviting violence against him. “I used to be wanted by Qaddafi, and now I am wanted by these people,” Mr. Hasadi said.Three months ago the threats increased against Mr. Hasadi after he made a series of media appearances. A speaker at a rally in the main square denounced him by name, saying he was opposed to Shariah law, effectively inviting violence against him. “I used to be wanted by Qaddafi, and now I am wanted by these people,” Mr. Hasadi said.