By Libya Herald Staff.
Tripoli, 29 October 2013:
The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) has denied reports circulating that there is a Jewish . . .[restrict]symbol – the Star of David – on the seventh issue of LD 10 banknotes.
“This is just a rumour, which was started by Congressman Tuati Al-Aidha on one of the local TV channels,” CBL media officer Essam Al-Awl told the Libya Herald. The CBL would take “legal measures” against Aidha, Awl said, because his allegations were completely incorrect and “vilified” the CBL and its staff.
After the revolution, the CBL decided to make some changes to the LD 10 banknote, Awl said. Without altering specifications or security features, the term “Jamahiriya” was removed and the star and the crescent of independence were added, he explained.
The designs on the latest issue of LD 10 banknotes were decorative and had no hidden symbols or meanings, Awl said, pointing out that similar designs featured on the notes before the revolution, as far back as 2007. If there really was a problem with the design, he said, someone would have brought it up before now. Awl also pointed out that new issue LD notes had better security specifications than the US dollar.
This is not the first time Aidha has courted controversy on live TV. He was one of three Congress members who claimed on television interviews that the Justice and Construction Party (J&C) had illegally sold oil to the Muslim Brotherhood and had secret contracts with foreign companies. His GNC membership was withdrawn earlier this month, pending investigations for defamation. [/restrict]
