By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 1 April 2016:
The Libyan League of Ulema has strongly criticised Sadik Al-Ghariani, the outgoing Tripoli regime’s grand mufti, . . .[restrict]for his threat of “years of jihad” against the Government of National Accord (GNA) led by prime minister-designate Faiez Serraj. It has called on him to repent for his violent views.
The League did not mention Ghariani by name in its statement, but a member told the Libya Herald that it was drawn up specifically to counter his jihad call.
The statement condemned “anyone who disseminates his personal views under the banner of religion while accusing those who have different opinions with blasphemy, to the extent of declaring them as apostates”. It called on such persons “to repent to the Almighty God, return to the right path, preserve the blood, and refrain from further blood shedding; for our people and our country have reached unbearable limits of inhumane suffering and hardship.”
Calling for the “urgent” endorsement of the GNA by the House of Representatives, the League said that the new administration had to deal with the country’s social and economic situations, tackle the threat from Islamic State terrorists, and at the same time avoid any “ideological orientations, special interests, and different agendas”.
“We invite the Presidential Council to urgently sit down with the entire spectrum of society, without exclusion or margination of any part of the Libyan social fabric. Let everyone participate in the process of saving our country from its plight. Let everyone put patriotism above all other considerations.”
The League also called for bloodshed to be avoided and for public funds, public buildings and private property to be secured. “It is religiously imperative to safeguard and preserve our faith, honour and property.”
The League consists of imams from the moderate Maliki school of Islam (the main school of Islam in Libya) as well as some from the Ibadi branch of Islam to which many members of the Amazigh community belong.
It has been at variance with the Salafist Ghariani on a number of occasions, condemning the moves he has led to shift Libya in a more Salafist direction, including the desecration and vandalism of mosques. It has also gone on record approving the Skhirat deal setting up the GNA. [/restrict]
