In the second part of his interview with Correspondents, Nasr ad-Din al-Mahni, a Libyan MP and former health official in the government of the executive office of Barqa region, said the political exclusion law is a result of political bickering and ought to be reconsidered. He also believes that most of the decisions of Libya’s grand mufti are misguided and confirmed that he supports the Operation Dignity, led by Major General Khalifa Haftar.

In the second part of his interview with Correspondents, Nasr ad-Din al-Mahni, a Libyan MP and former health official in the government of the executive office of Barqa region, said the political exclusion law is a result of political bickering and ought to be reconsidered. He also believes that most of the decisions of Libya’s grand mufti are misguided and confirmed that he supports the Operation Dignity, led by Major General Khalifa Haftar.

Nasr ad-Din al-Mahni, polls show that federal forces in the parliamentary elections will be able to win 26 out of 60 seats  in eastern Libya. What is the significance of this percentage?

It is not an issue of percentages and numbers. We are here speaking to those who adopt a federal identity. I think this has been surpassed.  Now there is a call for the formation of a Barqa National Front and unfortunately, this never before existed in our heritage, given that we are a tribal society.  But we have to think in the same way the people of Barqa think. Barqa is a multi-ethnic society and populism is above tribal issues.    

According to al-Barqawi, there are 40-45 MPs who support the Barqa cause, which means that there are 70-75% of the MPs of Barqa who support the cause.  These realities on the ground may force us to demand more than federalism in case this demand is emptied from its content. You well know that federalism has many forms. 

What are the expected alliances of the federalists in the parliament, especially since you are holding a number of coordination meetings these days? 

We are seeking to mobilize the Barqa public opinion to achieve the interests of the region. This is an expression of regional identity and the region’s MPs should agree on key important principles and a code of ethics. The principle of the multi-identity of the Libyan peoples should be taken into consideration. We will deal with those who agree with us on this idea within the framework of a united Libya through the exchange of interests. After all, politics are interests. If the national alliance forces support pluralism, we will look into their demands. If they serve the interests of the country, we will certainly be with them. 

What is the expected form of relations with political Islam deputies?

Things are very tense and confused. There are those who accuse Ansar al-Islam of murder. Does Islam allow indiscriminate murder? We accept the holding of a referendum on the issue of “Shariah as the source of legislation.” 

We do not disagree with them on the issue of Islam as the source of legislation, but on deriving laws and rules which govern the state through the Shariah.  Here, scholars, especially the followers of the al-Maliki doctrine shall resolve these issues. If they want the legislation to be an article that is not subject to a referendum and above the Constitution, and any legislation that violates it is void, I will accept that. 

It is a political issue and it is raised by one specific city or region with the aim of creating unrest in the Barqa region, tame it or prove that it is an unstable region. 

We will support those who want to build a nation based on its Islamic national constants, regardless of the titles.  However, those who export death to Barqa and kill people because of their identity, do not belong to us. 

Are you going to repeal or amend some of the laws issued by the National Congress, such as the political exclusion law?

The political exclusion law came within the political bickering process between the ruling Justice and Construction Party and the National Alliance Forces.  It is similar to the invasion of the Bani Walid decision, which was also taken for political reasons and which does not serve the interests of the country. Not every person who served as an ambassador during the Gaddafi era should be politically excluded.

All Libyans have lived with Gaddafi. It is important to verify accusations through the judiciary.  Any person who committed crimes against the Libyan people should be prosecuted and politically excluded. You cannot prosecute a nation. The law was issued to exclude a specific group and within the framework of political bickering and thus it must be reconsidered and either cancelled or modified.

What about the controversy over the some official positions, like the Mufti of Libya and the Chief of Staff?

In the best case scenario, the Mufti is the most controversial person. His fatwas are issued upon demand and to serve certain political interests. He was the one who said that federalism is a violation of Islamic law because it creates conflicts between the Muslims. 

Most of his decisions are not right and are beyond his powers. He has become a politician and he is issuing his fatwas upon the demands of the Chiefs of Staff.  They have become a kind of crystallization of the conflict because they are supplying the conflicting militias with weapons.  We will reconsider this and we will not accept a Mufti who supports murder and terrorism. 

We will also have a say in the selection of the Chief of Staff and his place of residence in order to distance him from the places where the militias hide, to prevent these militias from kidnapping and blackmailing him to provide them with weapons and money. We all know that Khalid al-Sharif, the Minister of Defense, has sent vehicles to the Darna militias and claiming that they were sent by mistake. 

Are you going to support the government’s adoption of Operation Dignity led by Major General Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi?

This is what we are going to support. We know that General Haftar had announced his project in Tripoli and he was not heeded.  Thus, he came to Barqa, where there is the initiative as usual. He united with the people and gathered militants with military numbers around him, while soldiers were and are still suffering.  We will be keen to provide legitimacy to a movement with the aim of building a national army capable of protecting the country.

This means that you will support the Operation Dignity under its current leadership?

We will support it. We don’t care about who is leading it. We care about the principle. We want and support the creation of a national army, police and security forces.

Is Benghazi, under the prevailing security conditions, suitable for hosting the parliament? Is there any alternative place for holding parliamentary sessions?

The best is to hold the parliamentary sessions in Barqa.  We have seen more than 270 storming operations on the National Congress and we see the on-going conflicts there. There is a huge security flaw. We can move to al-Bayda or Tobruk or to any city in Barqa but personally, I will not leave Barqa.