The events in Egypt and the success of the Rebel Movement in achieving its goals, by gathering a huge masses of people to protest against the government, have inspired the Libyan youth to try their hands at a similar movement called the ‘Rejection Movement.’

Despite its aims and demands being different from the Egyptian situation the Libyan Rejection Movement youth hope to achieve their demands by taking to the streets and protesting peacefully to demand their rights.

The events in Egypt and the success of the Rebel Movement in achieving its goals, by gathering a huge masses of people to protest against the government, have inspired the Libyan youth to try their hands at a similar movement called the ‘Rejection Movement.’

Despite its aims and demands being different from the Egyptian situation the Libyan Rejection Movement youth hope to achieve their demands by taking to the streets and protesting peacefully to demand their rights.

Observers of the activities of the movement, which was founded at the end of May, have noted  its members’ sense of organization, seriousness and attempts to promote it in the best way possible and to gain the people’s support and advocacy.

Naser Hawari is a legal activist and one of its founders.

Mr. Hawari , why do you call it a ‘rejection movement’?

We reject any violent behavior that tries to impose opinions, regardless of values and democratic customs. The movement also rejects the political isolation law, which should be replaced by the judiciary rule. We demand the GNC stick to the deadlines set in the constitutional declaration.

The campaign gives GNC an ultimatum either to end the transitional phase by December 30, 2013 or people will take to the streets to restore power.   

A press release will be held to announce the movement and its upcoming campaigns and joining forms will be distributed.

How many people have joined the movement till now?

We started our activities a month ago and the number of members have reached 100 but we are still printing and distributing the membership forms.

If you took to the streets on December 30th as mentioned in your announcement, would you demand that some people step down?

If GNC did not meet our demands, we would protest peacefully in the streets and the government would be responsible for any subsequent confrontations. We have demands and GNC and the government should meet them, especially since we will give them enough time to do so.

If our demands are not met, we would demand that GNC is dissolved and that the government form an independent body of councilors, judges and Islamic scholars to draft a Constitution, hold a referendum on it and hold presidential elections.

Yes, we mainly address our demands to GNC as it is the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people who elected it and the government is also responsible since it is the only executive body in the Libyan state.

What are you doing to convince people of joining the movement?

The Libyan youth is angry about the current situation but they do not know what to do; they need a body to lead their movement and unify their demands. We seek to bring together all their efforts to make a change and keep the revolution on track.

Is your movement responsible for the youth in the streets if they face armed formations, which may lead to casualties?

Yes, we are responsible. Firstly, we will announce our real names and all our official statements through a press release before taking to the streets and if some reject our movement, we are ready to sit down and talk, to avoid any armed confrontations, especially since our protests will be peaceful and organized.

Do you mean that you have arms? Are you alluding to possible armed confrontations?

We have no arms and reject using them; we aim to build an arm-free civil state. There will be no confrontations since our demands are those of the Libyan people.

As I mentioned, if there are people who reject our demands, we are ready for holding a dialogue. We reject arms and oppression; we support building a state of institutions and law. Peaceful demonstration is a guaranteed right for all and having different opinions exists all over the world.

Do you think that Libya is run by one political current?

Yes, we think that Libya is ruled by the political Islamic current, which is backed by external countries. It even has a military wing, namely the armed brigades.

Have the protest movements, such as the Rebel Movement in Egypt, become fashionable? Are there good reasons to protest in Libya?

We are not imitating Egypt despite the similarity to its Rebel Movement. There are compelling reasons to protest, including GNC’s slow progress toward the full sovereign state and the dominance of armed brigades.