Gaddafi loyalism

Flag of Libya from 1977 to 2011, used as a symbol by loyalists
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Gaddafi loyalism, in a wider political and social sense also known as the Green resistance, consists of sympathetic sentiment towards the overthrown government of Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed in October 2011, and his Third International Theory. Despite Muammar Gaddafi's death, his legacy and Jamahiriya ideology still maintains a popular appeal both inside and outside Libya into the present day.[1][2][3] Regardless, the Western sentiment has largely been that this continued support may contribute to some of the ongoing violence in Libya.

Sympathy for Gaddafi and his fallen government is viewed rather negatively by current Libyan authorities—both the legal government and extralegal militias— and even accusations of it can provoke harsh responses. In May 2012, the postwar government passed legislation imposing severe penalties for anyone giving favourable publicity to Gaddafi, his family, their regime or ideas, as well as anything denigrating the new government and its institutions or otherwise judged to be damaging to public morale.[4] Derisively called tahloob ("algae") by anti-Gaddafi Libyans,[5] suspected loyalists have faced strong persecution following the war. Around 7,000 loyalist soldiers, as well as civilians accused of support for Gaddafi are being held in government prisons. Amnesty International has reported large scale torture and other mistreatment and executions, of those perceived as enemies of the new government.[6][7][8][9]

Reports and rumours of organised pro-Gaddafi activity have persisted since the war's end. The Libyan Popular National Movement was organised in exile on 15 February 2012 (the first anniversary of the protests that led to the civil war) by former officials in the Gaddafi government. The party, banned from participating in Libyan elections, may have also cultivated links with armed pro-Gaddafi groups in Libya. Statements from the party sometimes appear on websites affiliated with the so-called "Green Resistance" (after the sole colour of Gaddafi's flag), a term sometimes used by sympathisers to refer to supposed pro-Gaddafi militant groups.[10][11]

Bani Walid, Ghat, Al Ajaylat, Brak, and Sirte are cities with large amounts of Gaddafi loyalism present.[12][13][14][15]

  1. ^ "Gadhafi Remains Popular in Much of Africa's Sahel". VOA. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Ten years after Gaddafi's death, a Libyan town still yearns for his rule". France 24. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  3. ^ "'Gaddafi has come back to haunt him': In Libya, all eyes on the Sarkozy affair". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Libya grants immunity to 'revolutionaries'". Alarabiya.net. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  5. ^ Frykberg, Mel (14 August 2012). "Gaddafi Loyalists Up In Arms". Inter Press Service.
  6. ^ "Libya: al-Gaddafi loyalists at risk of 'revenge' death sentences | Amnesty International". Amnesty.org. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Libyan rebels detaining thousands illegally, Ban Ki-moon reports | World news". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Plight of foreigners in Libya "worse than under Qaddafi" claims Amnesty International". Libya Herald. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  9. ^ "'Libya militias, army torturing detainees'". timesofmalta.com. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Gaddafi supporters outside Libya form new grouping". BBC. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  11. ^ Nkrumah, Gamal. Libya's apocalyptic slough Archived 27 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Al Akhram Weekly. 1 March 2012.
  12. ^ "France Says NATO Bombing Has Failed". Foreign Policy Journal. 12 July 2011.
  13. ^ "Nine Libyan forces killed in clashes with Qaddafi loyalists". Al Arabiya English. 22 September 2012.
  14. ^ "Gaddafi supporters rally in support of family on anniversary of rise to power: video". 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Large demonstration held in support of Gaddafi family in northern Libya: video". 25 August 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.