GNA Prime Minister condemns eastern government’s fatwa against Ibadis in Libya
The prime minister of Libya’s internationally-recognised government has decried a religious edict issued by clerics affiliated with a rival government that bans the Ibadi, a Muslim sect to which hundreds of thousands of Libya’s Amazigh adhere.
Fayez Serraj warned of “endangering social safety” and said on Friday that such edicts, or fatwas, could create discord.
A week ago, a religious committee under the government based in eastern Libya targeted Ibadi followers, describing them as a “misguided and aberrant group.”
The Human Rights Watch criticised the fatwa.
Eric Goldstein, HRW’s deputy director for Mideast and North Africa, said “religious authorities in Libya should stop pandering to extremists by castigating minorities in incendiary language.”
Amazigh advocates say there’re around 400 000 Ibadi Muslims in Libya, which has a population of 6 million.
How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@libyanexpress.com. Please include ‘Op-Ed’ in the subject line.
- Libya’s HCS invites applicants for key state roles - December 31, 2023
- UK calls on Iran to prevent escalation in Israel-Hamas conflict - November 05, 2023
- Libyan Interior Minister: Immigrant shelter costs a fortune - November 05, 2023