A Libyan Youth

I’m reading about a Libyan youth who has been made famous in recent times due to the influence of Internet (especially twitter). #TawfikBensaud

Tawfik Bensaud was 15 when he started his pro-democracy activism online in Benghazi, in the early days of Libya's 2011 revolution. He was 18 when he was gunned down for his views.

Here’s an eulogy about him from someone who not only knew him but also his good work

Despite his very young age, I saw a very charismatic young man, full of joy and good humour. He was very different to boys his age. He was very energetic. He showed strong interest in making positive change within his society in Libya. He was an activist, a reporter, a blogger and a great debater. Tawfik was almost engaged in everything. He was a member of many Libyan NGOs. He was member of the Committee of Supporting Women in Decision Making, a member in Bokra youth organization, a member in Benghazi El kher (or Benghazi Good) project, he was a board member of Mercy Human Rights foundation, a member of the Libyan debates club and many more. I certainly saw a young man with a sharp vision equipped with leadership skills.

Three weeks ago, on 19th of September 2014, Tawfik and his friend Sami were both assassinated in Benghazi, a city in the East of Libya. Since the 2011 Uprising, Libya has been experiencing instability and continuous violence. Many activists, journalists and members of the legal community were threatened, abducted or assassinated.

She continues to describe the chaos and violence in Libya.

Almost everything in current Libya is enforced by violence. Many political decisions and laws were enforced by violence. While violence seemed to be the only language spoken and practiced in Libya, Tawfik was a firm believer in the language of peace. This is illustrated in his written work published online. He enjoyed taking part in debates. People who know him well would tell you that Tawfik was an eloquent speaker who constructed his arguments coherently.

He’s definitely someone the youth can look up too. Sadly, he died very young.

References

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-30096283

http://www.uk.upf.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=713:the-3-leadership-lessons-i-learned-from-tawfik-bensaud&catid=36:peace-and-development&Itemid=58

Libya has a New President and a Parliment

Seems like they could have done worse than this guy. At least the guy is not a fanatic fundamentalist.

TRIPOLI, Libya — Libya’s newly formed national assembly elected former opposition leader Mohammed el-Megarif as the country’s interim president on Friday

El-Megarif, who authored a series of books on Gadhafi’s repressive policies, lived as a wanted fugitive for years, and was the leader of the country’s oldest armed opposition movement, the National Front for the Salvation of Libya. The movement made several attempts to end Gadhafi’s 42-year rule, sometimes by plotting assassination attacks including a well- known and daring 1984 assault on Bab al-Aziziyah, the late dictator’s fortified compound in Tripoli.

The regime cracked down on the group, executing and arresting many of its members. Many fled abroad where they worked as political activists. El-Megarif’s movement organized the first Libyan opposition conference in London in 2005 and called for the overthrow of Gadhafi’s regime at a time when other groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, accepted Gadhafi’s outreach to the opposition.

Upon his return to Libya after last year’s armed revolution, he formed a new party, the National Front, which sees Islam as a broad guideline to the state’s affairs, but does not mention the implementation of Islamic Sharia law.

Link.

Ghadaffi captured?

The rebels has captured the Libyan dictator. He was pronounced dead.

There is a video of him at the above link. Hard to say if he is alive of dead.

Correction: He looks dead to me.