Libyans have taken to the streets to protest the increasing terrorism that has been plaguing the fragile democracy—the assassination of human rights activist and lawyer Salwa Boukaiqis on June 25, 2014 was a harsh blow to the already instable security situation here.

Following numerous demonstrators on Fridays, and most recently the Salvation of Libya Friday, protesters crowded in Martyrs Square to demand the army and the police to face terrorism and extremists.

Libyans have taken to the streets to protest the increasing terrorism that has been plaguing the fragile democracy—the assassination of human rights activist and lawyer Salwa Boukaiqis on June 25, 2014 was a harsh blow to the already instable security situation here.

Following numerous demonstrators on Fridays, and most recently the Salvation of Libya Friday, protesters crowded in Martyrs Square to demand the army and the police to face terrorism and extremists.

Over five Fridays, movements including Tamarud, No for Extension, November 9 and Youth of Benghazi movements in addition to civil society organizations have advocated these demonstrations.  

What demonstrators want

The demonstrators called upon the Fatwa House to respond to their demands without politicizing the Fatwas to stand against all forms of extremism and terrorism.

They also called for the dismissal of the Grand Mufti— his last fatwa required that Libyans ‘challenge the Dignity Operation’  and said the participants were a transgressing group that must be fought.

The demonstrators also opposed all external interventions in Libyan affairs especially the Qatari influence that has become evident in Libya, they said.

The cause of chaos

Demonstrators rose slogans and graphics that clearly accuse the General National Congress of being the cause of this chaos through adopting decisions exacerbating the current crisis in the country.

They expressed their resentment at what they described as unacceptable intervention by the United Nations Mission of Support in Libya represented by its envoy Tarek Mitri, after he introduced an initiative that was aborted before its birth because of the wide dissatisfaction in terms of its timing and conditions.

Some felt that the initiative would negatively affect the process of the House of Representatives election and many others believe that it might return the situation in Libya to the start point. However, after continuous pressure from activists, journalists and civil society organizations, consideration of the UN envoy initiative was postponed indefinitely.

Advocacy and support

Former president of the Interim Council Mustafa Abdul Jalil told the media he supports the Dignity Operation and for the dismissal of the Mufti.

Abdul Jalil attributed his support of the operation to the fact that terrorism had reached a level that to which no one could turn a blind eye. He added that extremists killed Major General Abdel-Fattah and a number of his fellow judges.

In addition, many security institutions expressed support for the Dignity Operation led by Major General Khalifa Haftar against terrorism, including the Tripoli Directorate of Security which in turn took upon itself to secure the Friday demonstration to prevent any breakthrough that would change the course of this peaceful act.

War on Terrorism

Major General Khalifa Haftar leads Operation Dignity an initiative which responded to the indiscriminate targeting of more than 500 officers and soldiers in addition to civilians, activists and journalists.

“We have moved to restore the usurped national sovereignty, fight against extremism and terrorist groups and those allied with them, especially the Ansar al-Sharia, which thought that it had dominated the country and subjected and oppressed all military and security commanders who constitute an obstacle to its project,” said Muhammad Hijazi, spokesperson of Operation Dignity in an exclusive interview with Correspondents.

Serious accusations

The Libyan Minister of Interior Saleh mazeq had previously stated that two or three states including Muslim and Arab ones finance terrorism in Libya and accused Qatar of providing aid that harms the Libya security.

“It surpassed its limits and should be stopped,” he said.

He also said Libya is rife with terrorism due to its long borders and wide area, making infiltration easier. He also claimed that terrorists wanted Libya to be the extremists’ springboard to other countries.