Tripoli, 2 May 2012:
The NTC has approved a law criminalizing any glorification of Muammar Qadaffi or any support for him or the . . .[restrict]ex-regime.
Also passed at the NCT’s meeting on Tuesday was a law expropriating all the assets of Qaddafi and members of his family.
NTC spokesman Muhammed Al-Hareizi confirmed to Libya Herald that the two new laws had been passed. They would be made public on Thursday he said.
Qadaffi family assets have in practice been seized within Libya when known, but it is believed that there are far more to be discovered. A law will enable a properly funded government department to spend time and effort tracking down assets.
Abroad, significant amounts of the family’s assets have been frozen as a result of last year’s UN sanctions. Some has been seized. In Italy five weeks ago, the authorities seized more than $1.5bn in assets, mainly shareholdings in major companies. These, however, were seized at the request of the International Criminal Court. It makes it easier for Libya to pursue assets abroad and have them seized if there is a legal basis on which to do so.
Glorification of Qaddafi and support for him may be a more difficult area. Accusations of being Qaddafi supporters are often used to demonize rivals and opponents. In Sebha and Kufra, during the recent clashes, both side accused the other of supporting Qaddafi and presenting themselves as the true guardians of the revolution. The same occurred during last month’s clashes between Zuara and Al-Jmail.
Finding out who really is a supporter of the Qaddafi regime as opposed to who is being accused of being so may not be easy. [/restrict]
