Introduction
Since his appointment as military commander of Tripoli, 'Abd Al-Hakim Belhadj's conduct and statements have indicated a pro-Western stance. Following the jihadi community's initial excitement regarding his leading role in the rebel movement,[1] his openness to the West and moderate views over Libya's future have left online jihadis perplexed. These views have caused many of them to abandon their hopes of him.
As for Libya's Interim Transitional National Council (ITNC), jihadis went from de-legitimization to outright incitement against it due to its collaboration with the West, its call for democracy, and its willingness to aid the West in its anti-terrorism efforts. Salafi-jihadi clerics have issued fatwas permitting the targeting of ITNC members who were previously aligned with Muammar Al-Qadhafi's regime, and urged the mujahideen to openly call for the establishment of an Islamic state. One cleric went even further by stressing to the followers of the jihadi creed in Libya that the establishment of a secular and democratic state must be prevented even at the cost of a civil war.
Belhadj's Efforts to Build a New Image: Thanking France for Its "Historic Stance" in Aiding Libyans, and Denying Association with Al-Qaeda
Those who followed Belhadj's appearances on TV and in newspapers noted a break with his jihadi past. This apparent shift, which online jihadis and salafi-jihadi Islamists perceive as a pro-Western one, has caused some backlash against him, as seen in several posts on Al-Qaeda first-tier forums such as Shumoukh Al-Islam.
On August 29, Belhadj accompanied ITNC chairman Mustafa 'Abd Al-Jalil on an official visit to Qatar.[2] Several online jihadis criticized him for this, which demonstrated his acceptance of the ITNC's status and of its pro-democratic and pro-Western agenda. In the jihadis' eyes, such active participation in the political and diplomatic sphere is taboo. In addition, a photo showing him praying behind 'Abd Al-Jalil during the visit caused anger among online jihadis, with some of them saying that it proved he had betrayed their cause. Others expressed hope that Belhadj's involvement in diplomacy was a tactical move on his behalf. Online jihadis' criticism of Belhadj became harsher following his pro-Western comments (see below), where some voiced concern of Belhadj possibly joining the rest of the "dollar slaves," and others completely dismissed his future role in establishing an Islamic state in Libya.
Furthermore, when asked in an online interview if he supported the establishment of an Islamic state in Libya, Belhadj answered: "We seek the [establishment] of a country of freedom, justice, and equality, where the rights of all Libyans are preserved," adding that such a country should be established by peaceful means and with the agreement of all political segments in Libya.[3]
As for the role of France and NATO in liberating Libya, Belhadj expressed his gratitude for France's "historic stance" that stopped Qadhafi's troops from completely destroying the city of Benghazi. Belhadj also extended his gratitude to Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Sudan, NATO, and the international community in general, who supported the rebels' cause.[4] Belhadj's gesture towards France was reciprocated by the French government that expressed its confidence in him, saying it had "no concern" over his association with Al-Qaeda after a reassuring meeting between Belhadj and a French government representative.[5] On his views of future normal political relations between Libya and the U.S. and U.K., Belhadj said that such relations are possible. Still, he demanded an apology from both governments for their alleged role in a plot to capture and torture him in 2004.[6]
Belhadj has denied being associated with Al-Qaeda, while referring to such allegations as "lacking objectivity." He said that he denied joining the organization following an invitation from Al-Qaeda after its establishment.[7] On a different occasion, Belhadj said that "We have never and will never support what they call terrorism," and that "Libya is a moderate Muslim country," adding, "We call and hope for a civil state, governed by law, and this [matter] was not possible under the Qadhafi regime. [As for] the religious identity of the country [i.e. Libya], [then] it will be left for its sons to decide over it."[8]
Islamists Seek Religious Ruling on Permissibility of Targeting ITNC Members
Many questions on the Libyan situation have been submitted to the salafi-jihadi website Minbar Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad in the past several months. Among those are several questions pertaining specifically to the Islamists' suggested relationship with the ITNC, its members, and the former Qadhafi regime's supporters.
In one fatwa, dealing with the treatment of Qadhafi supporters who were captured by the rebels, Sheikh Abu Mundhir Al-Shinqiti says there is no doubt that killing these prisoners is permissible.[9]
A similar fatwa was issued by Sheikh Abu Humam Bakr Al-Athari in response to a query regarding the permissibility of targeting former high-ranking leaders in the Qadhafi regime who joined the rebels. Al-Athari said that the motives behind the actions of those individuals are often fake, since they are simply aligning themselves with the more powerful of the two (i.e. the rebels), and therefore, their joining the rebels does not by itself constitute a sufficient act of repentance. Al-Athari says that ensuring the sanctity of their blood, their sincere repentance, and their return to Allah is a must. Still, Al-Athari adds, their appeal for clemency prior to their capture [by the rebels] is not sufficient to preempt their punishment for the killings they committed in the past ([i.e. during their work for the Qadhafi regime). Al-Athari concludes by saying that the implementation of his fatwa on the ground should take into consideration the benefits vs. the harms expected from such actions (i.e. killing of former Qadhafi leaders).[10]
Salafi-Jihadi Cleric to Libyan Mujahideen: Declare an Islamic Emirate
On September 2, 2011, a series of 15 questions on Libya were submitted to the Minbar website by a "Saleh Al-Siddiq." Among the questions submitted was one asking about the proper conduct vis-à-vis the ITNC, to which Sheikh Abu Mundhir Al-Shinqiti replied that the Libyan rebels should not obey it. Rather, he urged them to hold on to their weapons, establish an Islamic Emirate and openly call and fight for an Islamic state.[11]
Following are excerpts from his fatwa:
Q: "How should we approach the ITNC, especially seeing that the head of our fatwa council has ruled that we must obey Mr. Mustafa 'Abd Al-Jalil, and that he is a legitimate ruler?"
A: "It is forbidden to swear allegiance to anyone, except under the condition that [he] is committed to Allah's book... The prophet clarified the trait of the individual who must be obeyed, [and] that he [should only] lead according to Allah's book...
"If this council [i.e. ITNC] subjugates itself to Allah's book, and declares its readiness to implement Allah's laws, [then] there is no doubt regarding its legitimacy and the obligation to obey it... However, if it objects to Allah's law, and strives to establish a democratic rule, than there is no doubt about the obligation to fight it and the prohibition to obey it." He then added: "The mujahideen must remember that the goal of taking up weapons is to make Allah's laws the ruling ones and his word supreme. And it is not limited to toppling the tyrant Qadhafi…The shari'a-based motive for fighting the tyrant Qadhafi is the very same motive for fighting anyone who refuses to be subjugated to Allah's law..."
On the need to establish an Islamic emirate, Al-Shinqiti said: "O mujahideen, the time has come for you to appoint an emir and declare the establishment of an Islamic emirate that strives to implement Allah's law. The opportunity has arrived for you [to do this], and the mujahideen around you in the Islamic Maghreb and in Egypt are awaiting eagerly this matter so that they can provide you with aid and support... O mujahideen, the Islamic state will be established only through jihad... So say it loud and clear: we are striving for the establishment of an Islamic state that will rule according to Allah's law and the rejection of everything else but it. We won't lay down our weapons until we attain victory or die."
Al-Shinqiti concluded his answer to the above question: "Don't let the ITNC, which operates under the West's command, to take control of matters, [but] respond to it before it seizes control of things; and realize that it [i.e. the ITNC] is out to get you..."
Al-Shinqiti urged the rebels in a different answer to sever their ties with the ITNC since their initial common goal of ousting Qadhafi was achieved, but now, the ITNC and the rebels share different goals (i.e. establishing a democratic state vs. an Islamic one, respectively).
Salafi-Jihadi Cleric: Civil War Preferable to Democracy
Another fatwa issued by Al-Athari further emphasized the jihadis' ambition to undermine any attempt by the ITNC to transform Libya into a functioning state. Al-Athari ruled that jihadis in Libya must not participate in any democratic process in that country, even at the cost of the outbreak of civil war.
This ruling came in response to a question posed by a person who asked how he should counter the argument that the mujahideen should participate in the political and democratic process in Libya, in order to prevent civil war and bloodshed.
In his response, Al-Athari wrote: "The shari'a has come to protect five or six necessities, as the scholars have written, and when there is a conflict among them, one must give precedence to the higher [necessity in order] over the lower. The scholar Sheikh Muhammad Al-Amin Al-Shinqiti said: '(the necessities) which [relate to] repelling of causes of corruption, [deal] indeed with repelling corruption from six matters, [which are:] 1: (religion)... 2: (self)... 3: (mind)... 4: (lineage)... 5: (honor)... 6: (money)...'"
Al-Athari said: "As our sheikhs and we [i.e. Minbar Al-Tawhid scholars] explained elsewhere in our writings, democracy contradicts and clashes with the religion [i.e. Islam]. [Therefore], for example, whoever enters it [i.e. democracy] for the sake of preserving lives, he is [in fact] giving precedence to the lower [necessity] over the higher [one, i.e. religion]."
He added: "The [true] monotheists [on the other hand], do not give precedence to anything over the religion. For its sake, blood is spilled, money is spent, and (even internal!) wars break out as in the... Arabian Peninsula... Gaza... Iraq... Afghanistan... Chechnya... Somalia... Algeria, and elsewhere.
"The scholar, Sheikh Suleiman Bin Suhman said: 'If you knew that adhering to the laws of the tyrant is [considered to be] unbelief, [then remember that] Allah said in His book [i.e. Koran] that unbelief is worse than killing... And He said: (fitna [internal discord] is worse than killing)... And fitna is unbelief. So, even if war encompasses the desert and the populated areas to the extent that they are wasted away, then that would be of less consequence than if a tyrant was to be appointed upon earth, [a tyrant] who would not rule according to Islam's shari'a…'"[12]
*M. Khayat is a research fellow at MEMRI.
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