As the last days of Islamic dictator Muammar Qaddafi’s regime pass away, the rest of the world, particularly the west, is trying to discern the truth about who the Libyan rebels really are.
Of the 33 member Libyan “NTC,” National Transitional Council (alternately referred to by some sources as the “TNC” Transitional National Council) - already recognized by many governments including the U.S. - only 13 have been publically identified.
To many this in and of itself raises a red flag and speculation abounds that the identities of the unknown are being kept secret as some are believed to have ties to terrorist organization Al Qaeda.
What is known and being reported by the BBC, amongst others, is that Libya’s burgeoning leadership is proposing a democratic-constitutional form of government. However, the basis for the new Libyan constitution is a draconian Islamic body of tyrannical law known as “Sharia.”
In spite of the Libyan transitional Constitution’s assertion that “The State shall guarantee non-Moslems the freedom in practicing religious rights…” the same passage, Article 1, inharmoniously declares “Islam is the religion of the State and the principle source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Sharia).”
Sharia law is derived primarily from the Qur’an and the Sunna i.e. the sayings, practices, and teachings of the Prophet Mohammed. “Sharia” meaning “path” in Arabic, is applicable to all aspects of Muslim life; daily routines, familial and religious obligations, and financial dealings.
Most interpretations are said to be used to justify cruel punishments such as physical mutilation, amputation, stoning, and disparate treatment of women in inheritance, dress, and independence.
The practice known as “honor killing,” where a female member of an Islamic family is murdered to preserve the family’s “honor,” is alleged to be associated with the application of Sharia as well.
Despite the fact that NTC leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, Qaddafi’s former minister of justice, has been lauded by some human rights activists, his record in this regard appears contentious.
Abdul-Jalil is held in contempt by many for presiding over an appellate court which twice confirmed the death penalty for five Bulgarian nurses who had been arrested in 1999 on the ludicrous charge of contaminating Libyan children with the AIDS virus.
The same report mentioning the matter of the Bulgarian nurses also divulged that “Abdul Fatah Younis, a senior military commander of the insurgency, is a former interior and public security minister, responsible for the system of torture set up by the Gaddafi regime.”
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