Middle-East
Update IV: 41 years of Qaddafi’s rule leads to genocide in Libya
Photo courtesy Amad tweeting for MM- follow our tweets here
Update IV:
- Forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi launched a counter-attack on Thursday, fighting fierce gun battles with rebels who have threatened the Libyan leader by seizing important towns close to the capital. The grip of Gaddafi on Libya loosened further as major cities and towns closer to the capital fell to the rebellion against his rule. In the east, now all but broken away, the opposition vowed to “liberate” Tripoli, where the Libyan leader is holed up with a force of militiamen roaming the streets and tanks guarding the outskirts. The London Evening Standard reported Thursday that Qaddafi’s cousin defected in a major blow to the Libyan leader’s regime. Read rest here
- Italy’s foreign minister Franco Frattini told journalists in Rome on February 23 that there are credible reports that about 1000 people have been killed in Libya’s ongoing crackdown.
- According to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), about 5000 people reportedly have arrived at the Tunisian border and about 15 000 at the Egyptian border after fleeing the violence.
- A key turning point in the uprising’s evolution was arguably the defection of the interior minister, Abdel-Fatteh Younes al-Abidi, an army general who had been a close ally of Colonel Qaddafi. Unlike the Facebook-enabled youth rebellions that toppled autocrats in neighboring Egypt and Tunisia, the insurrection here has been led by more mature activists. In the vanguard have been lawyers’ syndicates that have campaigned peacefully for two years for a written constitution and some semblance of a rule of law. However, like their counterparts in Tunisia and Egypt, the rebels in Libya have shown tech-savvy guile in circumventing government efforts to block their communication. To sidestep the government’s blocking of the Internet and curbing of cellphone access, for example, some of the more active anti government protesters distribute flash drives and CDs with videos of the fighting to friends in other towns and to journalists. Read rest here.
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Update III:
Anti Qadaffi forces have made gains in parts of Western Libya, the military has defected, the police have defected. The South and Tripoli remain the stronghold of the regime. Read more on the BBC page.
A video showing mass burials in Tripoli on February 22 was posted by the site OneDayOnEarth. View it here.
In the Eastern Libya, thousands of people celebrated on the streets of Benghazi, waving the pre-Gaddafi flags and handing out food and drink.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRNqG56XtFM&feature=player_embedded#at=34[/youtube]
A Libyan airforce plane has crashed near Benghazi after the crew bailed out, the country’s Quryna Newspaper reports. The newspaper said the crew had orders to bomb Benghazi, but refused to carry them out.
Update II: As the uprising continues in Libya it would be unfair not to report on the extent of Qadafi’s influence in Africa- he strongly believes in pan African unity visualizing a Unites States of Africa with him as the ‘King of kings’ his words. Read more about his dream of African Unity here .
Update I: Qaddafi appeared on national TV to address the nation. Watch the video for clips of his 1 hour+ speech.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i-riyVdNcM[/youtube]
“Muammar Qaddafi is the leader of the revolution, I am not a president to step down … This is my country. Muammar is not a president to leave his post. I have not yet ordered the use of force, not yet ordered one bullet to be fired … when I do, everything will burn…. From tonight to tomorrow, all the young men should form local committees for popular security…. wear a green armband to identify yourselves. The Libyan people and the popular revolution will control Libya.”
He offered a new constitution starting from Wednesday, but this would come with dialogue, not by collaboration with the enemy.
He blamed the uprising on ‘Islamists’ who wanted to create another Afghanistan, and warned that those in Bayda and Derna had already set up an Islamic Emirate that would reach Benghazi.
He said that the country’s youth was drugged and did not know anything; they were following the Islamists’ leader and their leaders would be punished with death in accordance with the Libyan law.
With Friends in High Places:
In the third quarter of 2010 alone, according to the Campaign Against Arms trade, the UK licensed over $6mn worth of ammunition to Libya, including sniper rifles and crowd control ammunition, which is suspected to have been used by the regime to suppress demonstrators. A warning was issued by a legal adviser to the UN Commission on Human Rights who suggested that Britain may be found guilty of “complicity” for the killings of protesters by Muammar Gaddafi’s regime. Read more about it here.
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Muammar Qaddafi, the leader of Libya for the past 41 years, in his first televised appearance since protests to topple him began last week, was holding an umbrella in the rain and leaning out of a van. “I wanted to say something to the youths at the Green Square (in Tripoli) and stay up late with them but it started raining. Thank God, it’s a good thing,” Gaddafi said in a 22-second appearance. Raining what bombs? bullets? Indeed this image of the evil clown resonates when it comes to his man, reality is scarier than fiction. His cartoon-ish image augmented by his buffoonery had lulled the world into thinking that he was not capable of this level of mass murder. According to Human Rights Watch more than 300 people have been killed in Libya. Despite the proximity of the last two revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, this not in any way in the same league. What is taking place in Libya right now can be compared to the atrocities committed in Rwanda or Bosnia.
Washington Post reports: Libyan warplanes and helicopters fired from the air and loyalist militias fatally shot protesters in the streets as the government of Moammar Gaddafi fought back viciously Monday against demonstrations that appear to be fast eroding the autocrat’s four-decade-long hold on power. A statement issued by the newly established General Committee for Defense described the protesters as “terrorist gangs made up mostly of misguided youths”, who had been exploited and fed “hallucinogenic pills” by people following foreign agendas. This is the stance that the regime in Libya have taken. AlJazeera reported that pamphlets were distributed in Guinea and Nigeria. There are reports of mercenaries being offered $2000 a day to come to Libya: here is a video of alleged mercenaries patrolling the streets of Tripoli. This is enraging the Libyans and many are joining in the protests.
One aspect of how far reaching Gaddafi’s arms are take a look at comments expressed in a Nigerian forum:
One of the other reports after the clip you have above speaks about French Speaking Africans as part of Gadaffi’s armed groups. This would point to nationals from Ivory Coast and / or Bukina Faso. The man has a history of backing armed uprisings in Africa, so when he is finally removed, that might actually help many African countries as the funds, guns and training from Libya will finally come to an end.
Following the revolution in the Middle East, our own Youssef Chouhoud, The Alexandrian tweeted:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebIUy8JEdNI&sns=fb[/youtube]
Disclaimer: This is a very horrific and graphic video of bodies of soldiers burnt alive for refusing to shoot their own people, the people of Libya. several sources that officers in Benghazi, including air force officers, had been executed for refusing orders to kill the anti-government demonstrators. Sources described a mass grave near Benghazi, containing the bodies of more than 100 executed officers.
Libyans from other cities — Benghazi and Misrata — were reported to be heading to Tripoli to join the battle against the government forces, said Mansour O. El-Kikhia, a professor of Middle East studies at the University of Texas, Austin, who had talked to people inside the country.
“There are dead on the streets, you cannot even pick them up,” he said by e-mail. “The army is just shooting at everybody. That has not deterred the people from continuing.”
Innalillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. May Allah grant them peace and tranquility from His eternal treasures. Ameen. An eyewitness account from Tripoli to Lisa Goldman, reported on 972, states that
The Libyan army is one of the poorest and most neglected security sector in the government. They are poorly fed , equipped, trained and payed. They are mostly ceremonial and Qaddafi does not trust them. So what we have here are private battalions with each of his sons owning the one named for him. So for example his son Khamees has a battalion belonging to him calling it “Kateebit Khamees.” Each is placed in private super huge barracks situated strategically around Tripoli for situations like these. These battalions are well-equipped, trained and paid and are extremely loyal not to the country but to the leader of their battalion. The regular army is non-compliant and has mostly sided with the people. Remember they are poorly-equipped and so can be of only limited help. However, the battalions belonging to the regime itself are very much in the fight and are killing people wholesale. Still their numbers are not so great to cover this huge country so it seems they are complemented by mercenaries.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwmlYXnnvmE&feature=related[/youtube]
Ben Wedeman of CNN, is the first Westernern reporter who has managed to enter Libya from Egypt through Eastern Egypt. Eastern Libya appears to no longer be in Qaddafi’s control. He reports here. The border has been opened and there are reports of thousands of refugees finding refuge in Egypt.
Western commentators keep an eye on stocks as the uprising in Libya continues. The BBC reports Asian stocks fall amidst the unrest in the region. Crude oil prices skyrocketed today, hitting the highest level in more than two years, as violence escalated in petroleum-rich Libya. Read more here. Even though Libya provides less than two percent of the world’s oil supply any threat is always a good chance for oil companies to make a killing- (pun intended with extreme grief). What is a few hundred lives as long as our oil companies continue to make profits. Libyans are still waiting for the world to react to the horrors all of us are watching our TV and computer screens. European Union officials are “encouraging Libya to move toward democracy”.
The United States also has “voiced objections” to the lethal use of force on protesters, in meetings with Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kusa and other officials, while Italy is worried about the influx of migrants. Whats worse is the Muslim countries as still mum. The Libyans asking “why when 4 people died in Bahrain,President Obama spoke up, but 200+ people have died in Libya but not a word out of President Obama’s mouth.” Ibrahim Dabbashi, “We are in the service of the people not of the regime” watch video.
Two Libyan air force jets landed in Malta on Monday and their pilots have asked for political asylum. The pilots claimed to have defected after refusing to follow orders to attack civilians protesting in Benghazi in Libya.The pilots, who said they were colonels in the Libyan air force, were being questioned by authorities in an attempt to verify their identities. Meanwhile, a group of Libyan army officers have issued a statement urging fellow soldiers to “join the people” and help remove Muammar Gaddafi. The officers urged the rest of the Libyan army to march to Tripoli. From Aljazeera Read rest here.
Read more about the history of Colonel Qaddafi in Libya’s Falling Tyrant.
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shariq
February 22, 2011 at 4:04 AM
Imam Ahmad on Rebelling against Rulers
Abul-Hârith Ahmad b. Muhammad Al-Sâ`igh, the close and respected friend of Imâm Ahmad, reports:
I asked Abû ‘Abdillâh (Imâm Ahmad) about something that had occurred in Baghdâd, and [because of which] some people were considering revolting [against the ruler]. I said, “O Abû ‘Abdillâh, what do you say about taking part in the revolt with these people?†He decried it and started saying, “Subhânallâh! The blood [of the people], the blood [of the people]! I do not believe in this and I do not tell others to do it. For us to suffer our situation in patience is better than the fitnah (tribulation) in which blood is spilt, property is taken, and the prohibited are violated (e.g. the honor of women). Do you not know what happened to the people (in the days of the previous fitnah)?†I said, “And the people today, Abû ‘Abdillâh, are they not in fitnah [because of the ruler]?†He replied, “If so, it is a limited fitnah, but if the sword is raised, the fitnah will engulf everything and there will be no way to escape. To suffer patiently this [current difficulty], where Allâh keeps your religion safe for you is better for you.†I saw him decry revolting against the leaders, and say, “[Do not spill the people’s] blood. I do not believe in this and I do not command it.â€
Abû Bakr Al-Khallâl, Al-Sunnah article 89.
Amad
February 22, 2011 at 4:24 AM
Pls see other post on Egypt… the issue has been dealt with.
50 scholars in Libya have issued fatwa for revolt. http://www.agi.it/english-version/world/elenco-notizie/201102212219-cro-ren1103-sunni_cleric_issues_fatwa_against_libya_s_gaddafi
Sh. Qaradawi has issued fatwa for his killing.
This is the same Gaddafi who wanted Quls removed from surahs, argued for a change in Islamic calendar, rejected ahadith and a bunch of other crimes against his own religion.
Let’s not be so confident of cut and paste quotes when there are many scholars who are in full support of this. I am sure they are aware of these quotes too.
shariq
February 22, 2011 at 4:50 AM
JazakAllahkhair. just fyi, here is another scholar on the issue, shaikh abdul muhsin al-abbaad regarding libya:
http://blog.athaar.org/?p=305
-Edited. link is sufficient. A quote at most.
Itbaa us Sunaah
February 22, 2011 at 5:59 PM
Concerning the Imaam, the Shaykh – ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (rahima-hullaah), Doctor Bassaam Khidar ash-Shatee narrates:
“From amongst his noble actions was when he called the President of Libya, Mu’ammar Gadaffi, and informed him of the prohibition of removing the word {Qul} from the soorahs (of the Qur.aan), and that pronouncing it was obligatory. The Shaykh did this, because he had heard the President had ordered the radio stations and the reciters in the masaajid to stop (reciting the word {Qul}), as he had also had the official textbooks changed to affect this order. As a result of Shaykh Ibn Baaz’s call, the President was convinced and returned to that which was (Islaamically) correct.
Likewise, when he called the former President of Tunisia and explained to him Allaah’s ruling regarding the ud.hiyah sacrifice and fasting, and that both of them do not adversely affect the path of progress and development (of a nation), and he gave the former President convincing evidence to prove this.â€
Mawaaqif madhee.ah fee hayaat al-Imaam ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn Baaz – Page 189
Student
February 23, 2011 at 1:36 AM
salamu’alaikum
the senior shaykh- ‘AbdalRahman ibn Nasir al Barrak has spoken for the rebellion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUPVoUURvBQ&
Shaykh Nasir al ‘Omar
http://www.almoslim.net/node/141785
Shaykh al-Habdan
https://www.islamlight.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=21420&Itemid=25
the muhaddith ‘AbdulAziz al Turaifi – https://www.islamlight.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=21419&Itemid=25
please brother don’t make this a game of “names” and “i have these people on my and you have them”
There is a statement of ibn taymiyyah (rahimahullah) that was mentioned by one of the scholars:
In a position of dealing with contemporary issues dealing with a society – you have 3 people that will respond, 2 that should not speak, and 1 that should.
1. A person who is ‘Alim of the Dunya, but not of the Deen – he should not speak nor be taken as a guide.
2. A person who is ‘Alim of the Deen, and ‘Alim of the Dunya (i.e. the reality of the situation of the people, their benefits and their harms – wanting good for them regardless of his position, between issuing simply what is “easy” upon them and “what is difficult”) – this person HAS to talk and respond to the people’s plight.
3. A person who is ‘Alim of the Deen, BUT NOT ‘Alim of the Dunya – and does not have the understanding of the reality, politically, etc. – it’s upon him to not speak.
Especially when governments have an influence – yes whether we like to deny it or not – on the religious figures who are representitives of the govt.
WAllahu ‘Alam
Brother
February 23, 2011 at 10:42 PM
Salaam Br. Student,
Unfortunately, I am not an Arabic speaker. Is there a chance you have an English translation?
m
March 15, 2011 at 6:29 PM
This should be enough for a Muslim
The Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told us, “There will come leaders who will not follow my guidance and not follow my Sunnah. There will be among them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies of humans.” (The Companion) asked, “What shall I do, O Messenger of Allah, if I reach that?” He replied, “You should hear and obey the ruler, even if he beats your back and takes your money; then still hear and obey.” [Saheeh Muslim]
A brilliant lecture addressing all issues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO-8DNI-58E
May Allah have mercy on us and protect us from fitnas
Brother
February 22, 2011 at 9:26 PM
Salaam Br. Amad,
I feel that this issue has not been dealt with. Whenever I see a post that is going against what the protestors are doing, it is accompanied with a list of supporting ahadith. I even attended a halaqa where the brother speaking kept giving ahadith against the protests. But when I see a post that is for the protestors, there usually isn’t any ahadith to support it, rather the usual emotional support and happiness for the downfall of a dictator.
Personally, I really want to support the protestors and make dua for them. But how can I when I see and hear arguments based on sunnah against the protests? Yes, I know Sheik Qaradawi supports the protests, but he also said that music is halal (don’t want to debate this, just giving example that he is human and makes mistakes).
For once, I would like to see ahadith supporting the protests at the same calibar or even better than the ones that strongly go against the protests. I really do not like having doubt in this matter.
May Allah save us from all the fitnas
Student
February 24, 2011 at 4:17 AM
I’m sorry brother I’m pretty busy in studies – but there is something out on it on the internet – for example Muhammad AbdulMaqsud hafidhahullah’s response and also some of the fatawa by AMJA or others.
The real issue here in how it pertains to the west – is that the du’aat sit back and don’t teach people systematically.. these issues would be CLEAR in people’s minds in the sense they’d understand at least the ahadith and ayat that are like you said “being quoted left and right”
if only we taught people systematically..
The more you realize that people need to learn arabic to hear from the scholars who will at least speak and discuss to clarify to the ummah – because
the minds of muslims are being used as an idealogical playground – from sides that selectively translate to them their religion.
And i mean this from ALL sides, not just one.
May Allah help us and grant us steadfastness and guide us and help the du’at in realizing their responsibility and what rests on their shoulders.
The masses are looking up to the few people they know that teach them islam – it’s up to them to teach them and not be afraid.
Allah’s religion is more worthy than our own personal inclinations – wisdom and bravery is all that we ask…
For Amad
February 26, 2011 at 2:52 PM
Amad, I’ve been reading your statements on MM for quite a while now and you always denounce terrorism and say that two wrongs do not make a right so why are you now supporting this fatwa for killing Gaddafi? Isn’t this considered terrorism or is terrorism something that is just limited to the West?
If you say that Gaddafi is not a Muslim and has killed many Muslims so you support his killing, then why do you reject that same argument when people use it to justify what they say against some of the presidents of western countries who are also not Muslims and are killing Muslims? What happened to two wrongs do not make a right? What happened to denouncing terrorism? Or is terrorism something local here in the West and does not apply in Libya or other countries? Even if Gaddafi is a dictator where as the presidents of western countries are democratically elected, that does not justify it because that goes back to what you always say that two wrongs do not make a right.
What Gaddafi is doing is definitely wrong but that does not justify using violence. Terrorism is wrong and rejected no matter where it is and who calls for it.
Hena Zuberi
February 22, 2011 at 4:10 AM
“O you who believe! If you give victory to God, He will give victory to you and make you stand firm.†(47:7).
Amad
February 22, 2011 at 4:17 AM
jazakallahkhair for this
There’s news of air-bombing in Tripoli!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110221/ts_nm/us_libya_protests_jets_2
Unbelievable.
F
February 22, 2011 at 8:05 AM
Two Libyan fighter jets defected to Malta (they were ordered to bomb unarmed civilians).
Basil W.
February 22, 2011 at 4:54 AM
While I fully support the aspirations of the Libyan people for freedom and democracy (as I support the aspirations of all people worldwide in that regard), I find the inconsistency of the website striking with regards to the selectivity of which uprisings to support/propagate. As I had pointed out in the comments section of the polls archives, the obvious sectarianism of the administrators of the website is on full display.
The fact that there has not been ONE article supporting the aspirations of the Bahraini people (simply due to the fact that they are Shia), despite the fact that there is an extremely un-Islamic, sectarian, oppressive dictatorship in place in Bahrain is very telling. Quite the contrary, the administrator(s) have the audacity to question whether or not the uprising even deserves support, with one of the options being that it doesn’t deserve support because it may have “a sectarian motivation”! This is despite the fact that there has obviously not been any manifestations of sectarianism among the Bahraini protesters, which is in stark contrast to the state instituted Sunni discrimination of the oppressive Khalifa family against the majority of Bahraini citizens who happen to be Shia.
Given that this is the case, could one blame the Shia if they did decide to “have sectarian motivations” given the selective support doled out by the Sunni community with regards to who is entitled to have freedom and who isnt?
Amad
February 22, 2011 at 5:07 AM
This article is about Libya. You are free to bring up your concerns in an open thread, but not on this, so we don’t go off track.
Ify Okoye
February 22, 2011 at 6:26 AM
Basil, can you write a post for us on the situation in Bahrain? I support it.
Hassan
February 22, 2011 at 9:35 AM
You mean you support Bahraini uprising? If you do, I would respect you for being consistent.
Ify Okoye
February 22, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Yes, I support the right of groups and individuals to engage in direct non-violent action to seek redress for grievances and to do otherwise would be highly inconsistent and hypocritical, similar to the dithering by the U.S. administration during the Egypt affair or their foreign policy as a whole, which sacrifices the rights of others for personal bias and profit. Nice quote here by MLK on the need for direct action.
The people in the street are chanting “No sunni, no shia, only Bahraini.”
ahlam
February 22, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Lets not jump to conclusions yet, Iran is in the picture and has proven to have interests in Bahrain, calling it a Iranian province as recent as2009.
I would have sympathised more if they were in the same boat as Egypt or Libya in terms of poverty and lack of education,resources etc., but to me they seem well-off comparatively and there are justified suspicions that these protests are affected by Iran/Iranian clergymen. ”In 1981, the Iranian-backed Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain attempted a coup in the country” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12513479
Ify Okoye
February 22, 2011 at 3:18 PM
Doesn’t matter if Iran is involved or not. The monarchy is far from open and democratic and minority ethnic/religious groups ruling over differing majorities are often a recipe for injustice.
ahlam
February 22, 2011 at 4:06 PM
Doesn’t matter? I’m sorry but it seems you do not see how dangerous the situation is in the region,sectarian wars are ugly and neither Iran nor any other country should be playing on those tensions in their favour.
Brother
February 22, 2011 at 9:08 PM
A friend of mine who is from Bahrain said there is ethnic discrimination, i.e. Arab/NonArab/etc, there but not religious discrimination. I read an article that Shias in Bahrain were discriminated against and it gave an example of a Shia who lived in a mud house. If the government was forcing him to live in that mud house, that would be one thing, otherwise, I would have told him to move.
My opinion is that the shias in Bahrain want to rule it which is why they are protesting. However, I am not keen on Bahraini society. Is there a secret police which unjustly picks up and tortures/kills/imprisons shias? Are the vast majority of shias poor (i.e. intentionally deprived of economic pursuit), wheras there aren’t any poor Sunnis? I don’t see any Sunnis protesting so I am assuming they have it all good. I just want to be fair with regards to this Shia/Sunni issue. Someone please enlighten me.
ahlam
February 23, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Mud house? They have oil and get umemployment benefits, where do they get a mud house from and in a Gulf state? Interesting.
F
February 22, 2011 at 8:05 AM
Gaddafi is going to get what he deserves in this life and the next. If he doesn’t repent, I make dua his end is terrible and that he is put together with Firawn in the Hell fire. Ameen.
May Allah(swt) grant the people of Libya victory over oppression and tyranny.
M
February 22, 2011 at 1:02 PM
(I found this article on http://blog.athaar.org/?p=308 May Allah help us all and forgive us for our sins)
-Edited. No need to cut and paste. The link is sufficient.
Meena
February 22, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Jzk for the update!
Keep making dua for the people of Libya and for the people who are engaged in protest in other parts of the world.
Zulander
February 22, 2011 at 8:59 PM
asalamu alaikum,
I don’t understand some of these commens. People post how these protests leads to corruption where innocents will be killed. Firstly, many protestors understand what the consequences of their protests from these oppressive rulers are. Secondly, these types of rulers aren’t the ones that the Prophet salAllahu alayhi wasalam prohibited revolt against, these are the types of rulers that he salAllahu alayhi wasalam was sent to remove. They kill women and children by the day, openly attack Islam and the Prophet salAllahu alayhi wasalam, and stifle the economic welfare of their constituents. How can someone seriously quote the Prophet salAllahu alayhi wasalam to protect the same people who attack the Prophet salAllahu alayhi wasalam???
F
February 22, 2011 at 11:59 PM
It’s the result of blind following and little practical knowledge on behalf of people quoting hadith out of context.
Sheima
February 23, 2011 at 2:50 AM
“The greatest jihad is to speak the truth before a tyrant ruler.”
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as recorded in Bukhari, Abu Dawud (hadith 2040), Tirmidhi, Ibn Maja and Riyadh us-Saleheen Volume 1:195
bigakh
February 23, 2011 at 5:20 PM
Now i know we shouldn’t revolt against the ruler and all that good stuff but what if the ruler is not Muslim?
so what i really want to know is…is this guy a Muslim?
someone
February 23, 2011 at 9:39 PM
Salam, I think a little perspective is needed it here, comparing it to Rwanda and Bosnia is a bit of a stretch. Bosnia was an ethnic cleansing, and Rwanda was a genocide, the motives are completely different. Lybia is a repressive regime with a tyrant trying to hold on to the last bit of power he can.
Nabeel Azeez
February 24, 2011 at 12:03 AM
“What is taking place in Libya right now can be compared to the atrocities committed in Rwanda or Bosnia.”
No, it can’t.
Muddassir
February 24, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Why do we have to compare it to anything, the people who are being oppressed, and atrocities are being done to them don’t need the comparison of people sitting safely in their homes and comparing leisurely, but they need your Dua and your help.
Hena Zuberi
February 25, 2011 at 1:32 AM
Call it what you want a genocide, politicide whatever- these people are dying they are Muslim brothers and sisters and they need our duas- all of them everywhere from Palestine, to Kashmir to Libya and Bahrain.
Genocide: the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group. The first draft of the Convention included political killings but because of the influence of the USSR & Joseph Stalin, this definition of genocide under international law does not include political groups so legally you are right but these killings fit the conditions.
For genocide to happen, there must be certain preconditions. Foremost among them is a national culture that does not place a high value on human life. A totalitarian society, with its assumed superior ideology, is also a precondition for genocidal acts.[66] In addition, members of the dominant society must perceive their potential victims as less than fully human:…. “effete degenerates,†“ritual outlaws,†“racial inferiors,†“class antagonists,†“counterrevolutionaries,†and so on.[67] In themselves, these conditions are not enough for the perpetrators to commit genocide. To do that—that is, to commit genocide—the perpetrators need a strong, centralized authority and bureaucratic organization as well as pathological individuals and criminals. Also required is a campaign of vilification and dehumanization of the victims by the perpetrators, who are usually new states or new regimes attempting to impose conformity to a new ideology and its model of society.[66]
– M. Hassan Kakar
Based on organizations who work on this day and night- I termed it genocide, I don’t believe that 850 thousand more have to die for us to call it that regardless of motive. To make their voices be heard, that is the only aim of these updates. All power belongs to Allah Subhanwataala-we are helpless and if we see something happening that is wrong the least we can do is say it is wrong out out loud.
Given credible reports of targeted violence against civilians, the newly merged Genocide Intervention Network/Save Darfur Coalition has called on the United States, United Nations, and other world leaders to embrace their responsibility to protect Libyan citizens. GI-NET/SDC is urging the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to authorize the following actions:
1. Freezing of assets of top Libyan officials and the Qaddafi family;
2. Referral of the situation in Libya to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court;
3. Creation of a mandatory Libya Recovery Fund into which all revenues from Libyan oil exports would be paid;
4. Establishment of a no-fly zone by willing countries, with the express aim of preventing continued operation of Libyan military aircraft if attacks against civilians continue
Muddassir
February 26, 2011 at 6:36 PM
Also in our religion killing a single innocent human being is like killing the whole of mankind, hence let us not take the non-muslims definition for genocide. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters everywhere since we are like a part of a body of muslims.
Wael - IslamicSunrays.com
February 24, 2011 at 3:23 PM
May Allah give the Libyan people security, freedom and peace. This is an exciting and historic time for Arabs and Muslims. We are throwing off the shackles of decades of dictatorship. I see good things for our countries in the coming years, Insha’Allah. I mourn for those who have been killed. Their sacrifices will not be forgotten. They will commemorated as shuhadaa and heroes, Insha’Allah, while criminals like Qaddhafi will be debased.
I lived in Tripoli for two years. Admittedly I was only 12-13 years old. But I remember the beauty of the city, the great sea wall, the old quarter, the dignity of the old men in their white desert robes, the warmth of the Mediterranean… may Allah preserve Libya and guide it to a happier future.
yakub
February 24, 2011 at 5:09 PM
subhanallah things are happening so fast imagine how many dictators will be gone by this year
Wael - IslamicSunrays.com
February 25, 2011 at 1:06 AM
Insha’Allah.
Bint A
February 25, 2011 at 1:54 PM
Politics aside, maybe we shouldn’t compare his picture with joker’s because it is not befitting to mock another’s appearance, whatever the similarities may be… w’Allahu A’lam.
Nabeel Azeez
February 26, 2011 at 11:45 PM
May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala have mercy on all those Muslims who were killed.
Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Abdullah ibn al-Abbas, “if someone dislikes his ruler, he must be patient, because if he comes against the ruler in a rebellious or destructive manner by only a handspan and dies, he dies in a state of pre-Islamic ignorance (jahiliyyah) and sin.â€
Abu Muslim
February 28, 2011 at 8:34 AM
No doubt, the unnecessary spilling of Muslim blood is reprehensible, and this seems to be one of the main points against challenging an oppressive situation, and personally, I believe it is something that needs to be weighed up.
However, can somebody please explain to me how it is justified for the Saudi government to protect their seat via the Americans? Whilst the trade-off is as follows:
1. The unnecessary loss of Iraqi lives in the first gulf war, the second gulf war and the periods in between and after.
2. The unnecessary loss of lives in Afghanistan.
3. The unnecessary loss of lives in Palestine.
4. The potential of unnecessary lives to be lost elsewhere, whilst this deal persists.
Can somebody please clarify my observations?
Jazakallahukhair
Hena Zuberi
February 28, 2011 at 10:51 PM
Sons of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have failed to persuade prominent Saudi clerics to issue religious rulings against a revolt that is threatening to bring down the veteran leader, Al Arabiya television said on Monday.
The Saudi-owned channel said on its website that Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam had contacted one cleric, Salman al-Awda, and Saadi Gaddafi had reached out to a second, Ayedh al-Garni, but both rejected their calls.
“You are killing the Libyan people. Turn to God because you are wronging them. Protect Libyan blood, you are killing old people and children. Fear God,” Garni said he told Saadi.
Garni made the remarks on air on Sunday, the website said, adding Awda gave the same message to Saif al-Islam. Read rest here
Sam
March 19, 2011 at 6:24 PM
Could I ask, how do you chaps feel now that Western forces, with arab league backing, are helping protect your muslim brothers and sisters?
Can you see that the west is trying to help, or do you see them as the infidel in this situation?
Middle Ground
March 19, 2011 at 7:06 PM
Hypocrisy. The ‘West’ you are referring to just murdered 40 civilians in Pakistan.
Lasantha Pethiyagoda
May 12, 2011 at 9:22 PM
The powerful media, in tandem with powerful geo-political and corporate interests, perpetuates a myth and influences public opinion when it picks a demon of choice, to fit the occassion. This has been the modus operandi for many decades now. Ultimately the “interests” prevail. As resources become more scarce, so do the myths and lies become more blatant, in order to cause divisions between sects (ie sunni vs shia or coptic Christians vs Muslims, or pro-someone vs anti-someone) and the fallout is exploited to intervene humanitarianly and covet the bounty. With the recent demise of a popular bogeyman, the following would re-assert established views.
Terrorism refers only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for a religious, political or ideological goal, deliberately target or disregard the safety of civilians, and are usually committed by non-government agencies. Some definitions also include acts of violence and war. The use of similar tactics by criminal states is usually not labeled terrorism though these same actions may be labeled terrorism when done by a politically motivated group.
The word “terrorism” is politically and emotionally charged and this greatly compounds the difficulty of providing a precise definition. The concept of terrorism may itself be controversial as it is often used by state authorities to delegitimize political or other opponents and potentially legitimize the state’s own use of armed force against opponents (such use of force may itself be described as “terror” by opponents of the state).Terrorism has been practiced by a broad array of political organizations for furthering their objectives. It has been practiced by both right-wing and left-wing political parties, nationalist groups, religious groups, revolutionaries, and ruling governments. An abiding characteristic is the indiscriminate use of violence against civilians for the purpose of suppressing resistance, or gaining publicity for a dominant group. In applying the above definitions, one must consider the magnitude and frequency with which these acts have been committed. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (to “teach the Japs a lesson”) or spraying napalm on most of the land area of Vietnam resulted in millions of deaths, and continue to kill and deform. White phosphorous and depleted Uranium in Falluja, Iraq (for example) and countless other acts of terrorism have resulted in millions of deaths, in addition to the few thousand that died on 11th Sept 2001.
There is no way that Muslims in the Middle East can win militarily against massive odds stacked against them. An option would be to join hands with China, India, Russia, Venezuela and the Asian Tigers and become part of an economic giant that will defeat the Imperium.
Lasantha Pethiyagoda