By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 22 May 2014:
The Grand Mufti, Sheikh Sadek Al-Ghariani, has condemned Khalifa Hafter’s “Operation . . .[restrict]Dignity” in Benghazi against Ansar Al-Sharia and pro-Islamist militias as a ‘coup’.
A statement from the Dar Al Ifta’s Islamic Research and Studies Council, which he chairs, described what had happened this week in Benghazi as “horrible”. It was an attempt to impose political views by force of arms, the statement read, and it had pushed the country into chaos and disorder. It intended, the statement claimed, to thwart the Libyan state ‘s development and undermined its democracy as it moved towards electing a House of Representatives.
It was the duty of all Libyans, the statement insisted, to denounce this counter-revolutionary move.
The Dar Al-Ifta, it said, was firmly opposed to the wave of assassinations and attempted assassinations targeted against the military but it held the government responsible because of its failure to maintain security. It was also opposed to allegations being made about who was involved in the killings without “substantial evidence” being provided.
What was needed if the country was to be spared war and chaos, the statement continued, was constructive dialogue and national consensus – based on the principles of the revolution, the unity of the country and an acceptance of peaceful transfer of power and of Sharia law. [/restrict]
