Libya’s Grand Mufti Condemns UN Advisory Committee Plan

Libya’s highest Islamic authority has sharply criticised the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) over its plan to form an advisory committee, calling the move “absurd” due to unclear member selection criteria.

During his weekly broadcast on Tanasuh TV, Grand Mufti Sheikh Al-Sadiq Al-Ghariani dismissed the UN mission’s latest initiative as “circular rhetoric” that he warned would only exacerbate Libya’s ongoing crisis.

Al-Ghariani accused Western nations of controlling UNSMIL’s operations, particularly criticising what he described as false equivalencies between opposing factions. “The international community is well aware of Haftar’s actions in Libya, yet they continue to equate victims with aggressors to perpetuate the chaos,” he stated.

The Mufti attributed the UN’s influence in Libya to what he called abandonment of duty by the country’s armed groups. He specifically criticised UNSMIL’s efforts to establish a new government to replace the Government of National Unity, whilst allegedly ignoring issues with the parliament and the Hamad administration.

Al-Ghariani insisted that Libya’s stability depends on electoral reform and a constitutional referendum. He called on UNSMIL to require all parties to participate in such a referendum if the organisation genuinely wants to help the Libyan people.

The religious leader concluded with a warning to his followers, urging them to reject cooperation with UNSMIL’s initiatives, which he characterised as “purely harmful” to Libya’s interests.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​