Brotherhood mufti opting for chaos in Libya

Mohamed Youssri

Proposed solutions to the Libyan crisis face vehement opposition from the radical mufti of the Muslim Brotherhood al-Sadek al-Gheriani, even as the international community has welcomed these solutions as well as negotiations between Libyan rivals.

Gheriani opposes any solution to the crisis that does not serve the interests of Turkey. He appeared in a video recently where he expressed anger at negotiations between Libya’s rivals. He lashed out at the interior minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fathi Bashagha for visiting Paris in mid-November. The same visit appears to have created a major crisis within the GNA.

Confusion

Gheriani is based in Turkey. He posted the video on December 10. The video was aired by his own channel, al-Tanasoh which is broadcast from Turkey as well.

The video appeared to be an attempt by Gheriani to apologize to the Turkish government for the actions of the GNA which is backed by Turkey as well.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is apparently also angry at the actions of the GNA. The same actions give the Turkish president the impression that the GNA wants to act independently.

Gheriani asked the GNA to apologize to the Turkish president. He especially asked Bashagha to do this.

He said he was made to understand that Bashagha’s visit to France took place under sponsorship from Turkey.

However, we realized later that the Turkish president is not satisfied with the visit, Gheriani said.

He added that Erdogan is not satisfied with the actions of the GNA either.