On the website of the United States Embassy in Libya, the late U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens wrote that he considered himself “lucky to take part in this wonderful moment of change and hope in Libya.” His wonderful moment, however, ended by being killed in this country.

Stevens, who also represented the United States on the National Transitional Council in Benghazi during the revolution, had built good relations with a wide range of Libyans. He often went around the streets almost unguarded, frequenting cafes and eating traditional food.

On the website of the United States Embassy in Libya, the late U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens wrote that he considered himself “lucky to take part in this wonderful moment of change and hope in Libya.” His wonderful moment, however, ended by being killed in this country.

Stevens, who also represented the United States on the National Transitional Council in Benghazi during the revolution, had built good relations with a wide range of Libyans. He often went around the streets almost unguarded, frequenting cafes and eating traditional food.

This outstanding interaction with the Libyan revolution and the Libyan people, however, did not shield him from angry rioters who set fire to the headquarters of the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on Septmeber 11^th, where Stevens was paying a visit.

Protest against ‘blasphemy’

The attack on the consulate came in protest over a film allegedly produced by the Coptic State Association operating in America, which insulted the Holy Prophet Muhammad, as well as his wives.  The identity and nationality of the film’s producer have not yet been verified.

Calls for protests against the film began in Cairo in conjunction with the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. It soon spread on social networking sites and was colossally echoed in Libya, namely in Benghazi, where militant Islamic movements are allegedly active.

According to the official Libyan narration by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Wanice Sharif, the demonstrations were meant to take down the American flag, but the situation escalated when embassy security allegedly fired to disperse demonstrators, or to prevent an expected attack on the embassy.

This led to setting the building on fire by a shell and the U.S. ambassador and three of his staff were killed and 14 others were injured and taken to the city hospital.  The corpses were ultimately delivered to Tripoli, where the wounded were also treated.

Condemnation and fury

All of this happened on the same morning when the new head of the transitional government was elected, which aroused much controversy in the streets. Most Libyans, social networking sites show, angrily denounced the act while explaining the reason behind it; the insulting film from America.

This came in line with the statement of the GNC president who sincerely apologized to the American government and people, describing the act as “shameful and dirty.”

On his Facebook page, political and rights activist Jamal Al-Haji called the GNC members to remember that “they and the country will remain under state of emergency until sovereignty is maintained over every inch of Libya, yet to be liberated”. He argued that they should send a clear message to the world that they are able to impose state sovereignty before “it is too late.”

“I am ashamed”

Journalist Suleiman Dogha has expressed extreme sadness about these events. “I am really ashamed about the killing of the American ambassador!” he said. “Neither our religion or prophet nor our ethics or manhood allow it.” After expressing condolences in the name of the Libyan people to the ambassador’s family, Dogha stressed that this people “will stop anyone who tries to undermine its revolution.”

This came after a letter in which Dogha sent to the ambassador in which he wrote: “We hope you pressure your government to enact a law that clearly criminalizes the mocking of other religions and considers it as much as it would ‘questioning the Holocaust,’ in order that our relations with you can be built upon genuine partnership and to keep your interests in our country.”

al-Qaeda victim?

Stevens has always denied the idea that al-Qaeda is existent in Libya; he repeatedly tried to convince his administration of this. However, according to hints by the GNC leader, it was al-Qaeda who handled the attack to send a message to the United States.

President Barack Obama denounced the incident yet said that it would not affect relations between the two countries.  Meanwhile, demonstrations took place in Tripoli and Benghazi decrying the incident and rejecting the existence of al-Qaeda and terrorists in Libya.

Author Fadeel Al-Amin urged the Libyans saying: “Do not underestimate them – dark forces – and do not be afraid of them. Do not enable them to [control] the homeland. We will never go back to the days of isolation, solitude, backwardness and obscurantism. Obscurantists love the dark and they want to impose it by arms and terrorism.”

Widespread anger

Resentment, sorrow and regret altogether will not, according to observers, help Libya avoid the severe consequences of the incident. Only expanding protests to many Islamic countries will do so. Under international customs, killing the ambassador of a country means a de facto declaration of war.

Widespread protests against the film have continued in Cairo, Egypt and in Sana’a, Yemen. Protestors also demonstrated in front of the United States Embassy in the Tunisian capital, Tunis.