Following are excerpts from an interview with Libyan lawyer and human rights activist Fathi Terbil, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on March 1, 2011:

Interviewer: Many people are asking how this revolution was ignited. How, exactly, did it start? Did it begin with your arrest on February 15?

Fathi Terbil: There are undoubtedly similarities between most of the Arab countries, especially those that endure conditions of internal pressure, groaning under the yoke of totalitarian and dictatorial regimes. All the peoples strive to win their freedom, to gain their honor, and to play a role in building of their countries. I imagine, however, that revolutions – especially those that are sparked by the people and the masses – are not generally not meticulously planned as coups d’êtat or anything. This revolution arose spontaneously, but there were definitely elements that brought about this outcome.

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Interviewer: There were no preparations for this revolution, which began spontaneously. Many young people are afraid that the revolution will be hijacked from them. Some young people I have met said that there are people who would like to harvest the fruits of this revolution. What is your view on this?

Fathi Terbil: There is no doubt that these concerns are legitimate, especially for those who have sacrificed themselves, and have sacrificed much for this revolution. They would not want their dreams to be stolen from them, or their desires to be ignored. They are right to be [concerned]. I can say that this people, which succeeded in toppling the harsh, stubborn, and cruel regime of Al-Qadhafi, will not find it difficult to topple anybody else. This is a decision of the masses, and I imagine that it would be a difficult mission for anyone to hijack the revolution and harvest its fruit.

Interviewer: We heard talk about an interim government, and then we were told that it was not an interim government, but an interim council for management of the country’s affairs. We hear the names of several figures being mentioned, and then it was stressed that this is still in the consultation stage. Is there some confusion or lack of coordination between you as rebels?

Fathi Terbil: We must agree on something. I’d like to tell you that this is very natural. This is a revolution that was not meticulously planned, and the regime was oppressing the Libyans for over four decades. Therefore it is very natural that after the toppling of the regime – and the rebels were surprised at how quickly it collapsed – we found ourselves facing many challenges and complex problems. We were not prepared for such circumstances. We demanded certain things, and we were surprised at the fall of the state, and we ended up with tremendous responsibilities. Consequently, one might expect there to be a lack of coordination, and trouble from time to time.

But generally speaking, things are going fine. We have begun to feel that the situation of the rebels and their leadership is improving day to day. Look, when barely five days had passed from the beginning of the revolution, the rebels managed, through their media organ, to publish a newspaper, to operate a radio station, and we are making headway with additional projects. Step by step, Allah willing, we will make progress.

Among the challenges facing us today is the fact that the former regime made sure that there would be no umbrella under which qualified people and intellectual circles could gather. This was a regime that did not issue licenses for the establishment of charity associations, or for intellectual or cultural assemblies, or anything else. It would fight such things. So we found ourselves in a situation as if we had just been born today. We were a group of rebels who barely knew one another, but who united out of common demands. Our demands focus on the source of our concerns and our pain – that man Mu’ammer Al-Qadhafi. Everyone was in agreement that this man had to be ousted.

But as for how the country should be run, and what shape that new Libya should assume – in my view, it is still too early. We are expecting a lot from those people whose right to live in Libya was denied by Al-Qadhafi, from those who lived abroad, learned many things, and have experience. Many capable people live in Libya too, but the regime has made efforts to erase them, and not give them a chance to emerge. Therefore, all Libyans will play a role in shaping the character of the new Libya.

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