Tripoli, 2 June:
Influential Libyan cleric Sheikh Ali Salabi, who helped found the Nation Party, has said that his recent meeting with . . .[restrict]a number of the followers of the former regime was aimed at ensuring justice, national reconciliation and accountability.
Salabi met former Qaddafi officials in Cairo last week. They reportedly included Qaddafi’s cousin, Ahmed Qaddaf Al-Dam.
In a wide ranging interview with Tripoli-based Solidarity Press, Salabi said that the meeting had been at the request of NTC chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil. The aim had been to open a dialogue with a group from the former regime and to discuss how to accomplish basic principals that would be of benefit to all Libyans and unite them all in a country committed to freedom, equality and the law.
Speaking from Benghazi, he explained that the points discussed related to justice, national reconciliation, the swift re-activation of the judiciary system. There had to be transparent investigation to find out the truth behind all the violations suffered by Libyan citizens and it should be based on Islamic legal principles.
Prisoners who had not committed any criminal acts should be released, he said, and cases of murder, rape and theft of public funds should be referred to the courts. All those who held arms and used them against the Libyan state or society should also be prosecuted.
He called for a meeting of the national reconciliation committee formed by the NTC in Libya and for it to interact with civil society organisations, the media, tribal elders and brigade leaders, and inform them about what has been achieved so far and encouraging them to contribute to the ensuring justice in Libya.
But “those Libyans who have different political views [i.e. those opposed to the revolution] must be identified and those wanted among them should be brought to justice, through a special committee known for integrity and impartiality”.
Libya is for all Libyans, Salaib said, stressing the need to fight incitement , exclusion, marginalization and name-calling between Libyans. “We must treat all widows and orphans of the war as Libyan citizens and alleviate all financial and moral hardships on all those effected in accordance with the principles of Islamic law, human rights, international agreements and conventions as well as the [interim] constitutional proclamation.
He stressed the right of the Libyan families to return home and reclaim their properties for which they have legal title.
He said all Libyans were entitled to good treatment at Libyan embassies abroad, be it in respect of renewing their passports, registering and endorsing the documents of their children born outside the country.
He also called for Libyans living abroad, especially in Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan to participate in the elections. (Libyans living in Jordan will be able to vote at the Libyan embassy in Amman; there is no provision for Libyans in Egypt and Tunisia.
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