By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 14 September 2017:
Controversial cleric Sadek Al-Ghariani has indicated his tacit support for Baset Igtet, the Swiss-based Libyan entrepreneur who last week reentered the political arena calling on Libyans to support him. In an interview on Al-Nabaa TV and video messages on his Facebook page, Igtet called on them to go out and demonstrate on 25 September. He said he himself would be Tripoli’s Martyrs’ Square that day.
Responding to a question on his own Tanasuh TV whether it were permissible to join the demonstrations, Ghariani said that it was.
He also said and that he and his associates supported those who supported them.
He is seen to be referring to Igtet having the same objectives as himself. Igtet had called for Presidency Council head Faiez Serraj and Khalifa Hafter to be removed and, on Nabaa TV, launched a bitter attack on Egypt accusing it of being responsible for the destruction of Benghazi. Under him, he said, Libya would force the Egyptian military to stop its campaign in the country. As it had been defeated in Yemen and Sudan, he claimed, it would be defeated in Libya.
Ghariani also said that people must support those who would remove injustice and end the sufferings of the country. He indicated that he thought Igtet wanted to do this. Whoever stands for justice, he said, his Dar Al-Ifta (Fatwa House) would stand with them.
One Misrata brigade, the Martyr Nuri Friwan Brigade, has already announced its support for Igtet, promising to protect demonstrators in 25 September. Regarded as being on the militant side of Libyan politics, it was formerly part of Libya Dawn and more recently part of the Bunyan Marsous operation against the so-called Islamic State in Sirte.
With growing despair at the economic and political situation in Libya and rejection of all existing political leaders, support for Igtet has been growing in recent days, particularly in Tripoli where the sense of alienation is at its strongest.
“People don’t care what his background is or who he is married to, they just think he might be the answer,” said a prominent Tripoli political leader. He was referring Igtet’s marriage to Sarah Bronfman, the daughter and heiress to the late billionaire Edgar Bronfman Sr, who owned the whisky and distilling company Seagrams and was president of the World Jewish Congress.
Igtet’s claim that he was backed by the Trump administration was also a reason why people were beginning to support him, it was suggested.
Meanwhile, in a separate appeal on Tanasuh , Ghariani called for the release of his colleague Abdel-Razzaq Mushaireb, the imam at central Tripoli’s Ben Nabi Mosque, who was arrested by Rada (“deterrence”) force on suspicion of having links to terrorist groups. He called on those responsible for the arrest to repent and return to the faith.
