Mufti: Officials’ silence over Haftar’s executions of opponents under the pretext of terrorism provides cover for these crimes

Libya’s Mufti, Sheikh Al-Sadiq Al-Gharyani, said that one manifestation of the erosion of Libya’s sovereignty was what he described as foreign orders issued to the “criminal who staged a coup against legitimacy” in eastern Libya to execute prisoners accused of terrorism.

Al-Gharyani said Western countries use the term “terrorism” against Muslims who declare their belief in God and the Day of Judgment, as well as against those seeking to free their countries from foreign domination.

He argued that those executed by Khalifa Haftar had no connection to what is described as terrorism, adding that the people of Derna were themselves the ones who fought ISIS. 

He said this was also acknowledged by a former US ambassador, who stated after leaving her post that she was unaware of any effort by Haftar to combat terrorism.

The Grand Mufti also accused Haftar of displacing hundreds of thousands of people from eastern Libya and seizing their property, saying: “Women in eastern Libya have come to appeal to Haftar for help, while he himself commits crimes and kills men. Is this acceptable to you, people of Barqa?”

Al-Gharyani called on the Presidential Council, the government, the Bar Association, the Public Prosecution, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Judicial Council and all relevant authorities to take action against the executions, arguing that their silence amounts to providing cover for what he described as these crimes.