No Result
View All Result
Monday, July 7, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Features

Exclusive interview with Fathi Ben Khalifa, President of World Amazigh Congress

byMichel Cousins
April 24, 2013
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A

By Mohamed Eljarh.

Fathi Ben Khalifa, President, World Amazigh Conference

London, 22 April 2013:

The World Amazigh Congress is an international organisation, which was established to protect the Amazigh identity . . .[restrict]and advocate the rights of Amazigh throughout the world and in particular in the North Africa and Sahel regions. Fathi Ben Khalifa, from Libya, was elected president of the World Amazigh Congress in October 2011.

Despite widespread sympathy among Libyans for the aspirations of the country’s Amazigh community, Ben Khalifa has faced numerous accusations – from being an Israeli agent to working for the partition of Libya, and insulting Islam and the Prophet Mohamed. They are accusations which he emphatically denies.

When asked about the nature of the threats he received, Ben Khalifa had the following to say:

RELATED POSTS

Tripoli government forces regain control over Ras Jedir Libyan-Tunisian border crossing

Armed clashes between government forces and local Zuwara forces at Libyan-Tunisian border crossing – Tunisia closes border

“Threats against me existed since the Qaddafi days. That was to be expected. There is nothing new there because Qaddafi threatened many people and groups. However, in the summer of 2012, I received death threats from a group called Libya’s Revolutionary Brigades. The threat was in the form of a written statement that was posted online and copies of it were submitted to the authorities in Libya. The statement accused me of being an agent for Israel and other Western nations that sought to partition Libya. The statement went on to list the punishment that I should receive which was ‘Death by hanging’ for the charges of treason”

Ben Khalifa is convinced that he was really targeted for  what he stands for, which clashes with the agendas of certain groups in Libya.

When asked about the tactics these groups used to target him, he had the following to say:

“These groups are falsely using videos and recordings of statements I made during my visits to the Tuareg and Tebu tribes in southern Libya, or statements I made during interviews or forums. However, these videos and recordings have been edited and taken out of context, in order to portray me in a certain manner that would enable these groups to issue a statement calling for my death”

Ben Khalifa insists that he has good relations with tribes in the south, from Tuareg to Tebu to Arab tribes, and mentions in this context the tribe of Awlad Suliman in the Sebha region.

He felt that a vindictive and bitter campaign has been launched against him because he stands for “universal rights for all Libyans” – meaning he want standards of justice to apply to everyone in Libya without any discrimination. Ben Khalifa thinks the concept of “universal rights” for all Libyans, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, sex, political, tribal or ideological affiliations, clashes with the agendas of certain groups in the country that would like to impose their own ideology and identity and eliminate anything else that differs from it.

Ben Khalifa adds: “My name is being mentioned whenever trouble occurs in Libya. For example, my name was mentioned in the proselytizing case in Benghazi. There were allegations that I had a hand in it. Also, whenever, there is trouble in the south, my name and what I stand for is tainted by baseless and unfounded allegations that this is what I aspire to do (causing instability and chaos in Libya).”

Ben Khalifa was concerned that the media in Libya is being brain-washed by the constant  repetition of baseless allegations. Public opinion in Libya, he said was being misled. He also said that he had received repeated threats via emails and his social media profiles.

When asked about the response of Libyans officials to the threats he received and the number of baseless allegations against him, Ben Khalifa had the following to say:

“Officials in Libya, both security and government officials, as well as politicians, seem to have lost touch with the reality of the situation in Libya. Their approach to many critical issues has so far been nothing more than an ad hoc  that usually backfires and results in further complications to the situation. I could excuse security officials in Libya because their own lives are in danger and many times they have been the victims of violence. Some have lost their lives. In my case, I was advised by senior security and government officials that it wouldn’t be safe for me to return to Libya now, and that I should wait until the situation settles down”.

Despite this advice, Ben Khalifa insists that nothing would keep him away from Libya, and that it would not deter him from continuing to advocate for what he believes in and stands for.

On the issue of Libya’s upcoming constitution, Ben Khalifa had the following to say:

“Politicians in Libya need to understand the significance of the issue of Libyan identity in the constitution. Will Libya be Arab, African or Islamic …. and so forth? The Libyan identity needs to be Libyan and any sort of division or discrimination with regards to the issue of identity would only complicate Libya’s future”

On the rights of Amazigh in Libya’s upcoming constitution, Ben Khalifa had the following to say:

“I don’t support special treatment for the Amazigh or special provisions for the rights of the Amazigh in the constitution. I support the idea that the constitution provides all Libyans with ‘universal rights’, not just the Amazigh, but women, Christians, Jews, disabled people and all segments of the society. No single group should have preference over others in the Libya’s upcoming constitution, because that would create divisions and we would have first-class citizens and second-class citizens. Our constitution should uphold the concept of ‘citizenship for all’ based on justice and equality.”

On the challenges facing Libya’s upcoming constitution and the implications of those challenges on Amazigh rights, Ben Khalifa had the following to say:

“The main challenge facing Libya’s upcoming constitution is the narrow-mindedness of the elite in the Libyan political arena. The serious lack of dialogue and the inability to appreciate differences and disagreements are all challenges facing Libya’s upcoming constitution”

When asked about the extent he would go to see the Amazigh rights guaranteed, safeguarded and protected, Ben Khalifa said:

“As a Libyan I would stand firmly against any bad intentions towards my country and my fellow Libyans. However, it is not hard to understand that marginalisation and oppression would only result in violent confrontations. This is not a threat. This is what history tells us,. This is what the February 17 Revolution teaches you. To get rid of Qaddafi and then keep his practices intact is not what Libyans aspired to when they walked out in the streets against oppression and marginalization.”

Numerous people accused Ben Khalifa of hating Arabs and not supporting  the Palestinians in their struggle against Israel. When asked about this issue, Ben Khalifa said the following:

“I was never against Palestine or the rights of Palestinians in their struggle against Israel. I support Palestine out of my humanistic instincts. However, I firmly believe that the best way to support Palestine and Palestinians is by building a strong Libya, where the values of equality, justice, citizenship for all and respect for diversity are all guaranteed. Supporting Palestine isn’t by issuing statements and playing the role of the hero and the saviour like Qaddafi did and Bashar is still doing. Supporting Palestine should start at home by respecting the rights of all Libyans. This belief has been taken out of context and is being used against me”

Ben Khalifa believes that the 17 February revolution in Libya is a historical event that would not be repeated anytime soon. The positive development after the February revolution according to Ben Khalifa is openness of the public in Libya towards their Amazigh brothers, and there seems to be overwhelming support for ‘universal rights’ for all Libyans without any preference for one group over another.

Ben Khalifa believes that his message and what he stands for clashes directly with the agenda of groups who are taking their orders from outside Libya. When asked to elaborate on this point he said:

“For example we have groups who would like to copy Saudi Arabia and are working hard to eliminate anyone or any group that hold different views on what the Libyan people should look like in the future, as stipulated in its upcoming constitution. I say to them relocate to Saudi Arabia if you are fond of their style of living, because the Libyan identity is here to stay.”

When asked about whether he would support partition of Libya if that was the only way the Amazigh would get their rights, he said:

“I would never support partition of Libya. I know there are other ways by which all Libyans can have their rights protected and safeguarded and that would by celebrating the difference and the diversity of the Libyan society. The history of Libya didn’t start 1400 years ago. Libya existed thousands of years before Islam and the Arabs came to North Africa. All that history should be celebrated and all Libyans should be proud of it”

Finally, Ben Khalifa urged individuals or groups who disagree with him to have open and transparent dialogue so that Libyans can make their own judgment themselves, and not have their minds made up for them. “I would never agree or tolerate misleading of the Libyan public opinion” he said. [/restrict]

Tags: amazighfeaturedLibya

Related Posts

Libya Herald exclusive: Responding to the prime minister’s call yesterday to the private sector and banks to do more, leading businessman Husni Bey responds
Business

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

July 2, 2025
Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg
Libya

Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg

June 27, 2025
MoI establishes Elections Security and Protection Department
Libya

Aldabaiba and Menfi stress use of polling feedback to establish consensus basis for constitutional process: report and analysis

June 26, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

“There is no state built by gangs and criminality, it’s built by engineers, youth, consultants, security, police and army”: Aldabaiba

June 23, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

187 new security posts taken over from militias – PM declares victory for the state as all vital Tripoli sites come under its exclusive control for the first time since 2011

June 19, 2025
Interior Ministry’s Diplomatic Missions Protection personnel receiving training in Ukraine
Libya

The Interior Ministry had spent LD 50 billion in 13 years with no result: Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi

June 17, 2025
Next Post

Attempt to blockade Tripoli airport fails

Sebha restaurant attack sparks angry protest

Sebha restaurant attack sparks angry protest

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Libya Herald exclusive: Responding to the prime minister’s call yesterday to the private sector and banks to do more, leading businessman Husni Bey responds

    Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • CBL demands imports are conducted through official banking instruments and the elimination of the FX black market

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • All imports into Libya must be paid for through official bank transactions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libya’s economy showed recovery in 2024, remained resilient despite reliance on hydrocarbons and ongoing political and security instability: World Bank

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A 247,000-bpd oil production increase would achieve US$ 6 billion annually to enhance ability to meet FX demand, maintain strength of LD and achieve economic balance: CBL ‎

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

A 247,000-bpd oil production increase would achieve US$ 6 billion annually to enhance ability to meet FX demand, maintain strength of LD and achieve economic balance: CBL ‎

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.