Libya’s Brotherhood in new bid to obstruct elections

Mustafa Kamel                                                      

The branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya has been trying to obstruct the country’s democratic path.

Its latest attempt in this regard came in the form of legal proceedings at a court in Virginia, the United States.

The proceedings aim to suspend preparations for the elections which are slated for December 24.

The proceedings also aim to tarnish the image of a large number of prominent Libyan politicians, including Libyan National Army Commander, Gen. Khalifa Haftar.

The proceedings also come only days before the ‘Libya Stability’ which is scheduled to be held in the presence of delegates from several Arab countries.

Bullying

Head of the Supreme Libyan Council, Khaled al-Mashri, sent a letter to the court in his bid to force Gen. Haftar not to run for president in the elections.

The letter has, meanwhile, sparked anger in Libyan political circles. Some Libyan politicians equated it with the revelation of military secrets which is punishable by Libyan law.

Gen. Haftar has enlisted the services of a legal team to represent before the court.

The team had lodged an official memorandum, in which it underscored Gen. Haftar’s respect for the criminal and military law in Libya.

It said military secrets should not be disclosed.

Whoever commits this breach of the law is punished by death, according to Libyan law, the team said in the memorandum.

The team cited Article no. 171 of the Libyan Criminal Code, which says those who provide a foreign government, one of its agents, or any other person working in its interest, in any way and by any means, with a secret related to the defense of the country, or any similar secret, shall be punished by death.