By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 16 December:
A leading Libyan imam and preacher, Sheikh Mohamed Al-Jaafari, has been released after having been abducted two weeks ago.
Jaafari was seized as he left his local mosque in the Tripoli suburb of Ain Zara after Isha (evening) prayers. It is still not known who kidnapped him.
A prominent member of the League of Libyan Ulema he was made head of it following his abduction in the hope that it would help ensure his safety.
The League, which represents mainstream Islam in Libya and comprised of Maliki and Sufi as well as Ibadi scholars, is in conflict with the now largely Salafist Dar Al-Ifta, led by Sheikh Sadek Al-Ghariani. The latter was sacked as Grand Mufti by the House of Representatives but is still acknowledged by Libya Dawn and the Hassi administration.
Another cleric and leading Sufi imam, Sheikh Tarek Abbas, was freed two days ago after being held by kidnappers for just over five months.
It is not clear how Jaafari or Abbas came to be released this week nor of what happened to either imam during their incarceration.
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