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7 Years after his Murder, Fate of Gaddafi’s Family Remains a Mystery

Muammar Gaddafi with wife Safia and sons: Saif al-Arab, Khamis and Muotasim Bellah (Getty Images)

by aawsat.com -- Cairo - Jamal Jawhar A recent court order banning Hannibal, son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, from leaving Lebanon for a year, brought back the discussion of the “mysterious fate” of Gaddafi’s family. Some want Hannibal released from prison, stressing that he should not be punished for his father’s crimes, while others demanded Libyan authorities intervene in this case and reveal the truth to the people. Three of Gaddafi's nine children were killed during the "revolution" by the "rebels," including Muotasim Bellah, who served as national security adviser to the country. The remaining six survived but are in different countries: al-Saadi imprisoned in Tripoli, Hannibal detained in Lebanon, and Saif al-Islam whose whereabouts are not known. In addition, Gaddafi's wife, Safia Farkash, left for Algeria with her daughter Aisha, whereas, Mohammed, Gaddafi’s eldest son from his first wife Fathia, moved to Oman. Reports indicated that Hana, their adopted sister, most likely died during the US bombing of Tripoli in 1986, and was only 4-years-old back then. A Lebanese judge has banned Hannibal, Gaddafi’s fifth son, from leaving Lebanon for a year after a case was filed in which a Lebanese citizen, Hussein Hbeish, accused him of "forming a terrorist organization, kidnapping and attempted murder”, Lebanon’s The Daily Star reported Monday.

The newspaper said that Judge Rita Ghantous decided on July 12 to prevent Hannibal from leaving Lebanon for a year, and sent a memorandum to General Security to implement the decision. In his lawsuit, Hbeish indicated that during a visit to Libya in 2016, he was kidnapped by an armed group loyal to Hannibal. The group demanded the Lebanese government release Gaddafi's son in exchange for setting Hbeish free. Hannibal is also serving a one and a half year sentence for insulting the Lebanese judiciary. In December 2015, Lebanese authorities detained him as part of an investigation into the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr and two of his companions after a visit to Libya at the invitation of Muammar Gaddafi in 1978. Member of Libya’s House of Representatives Mohammed al-Abani expressed his "respect" to the Lebanese judiciary, but said that blaming Hannibal for his father’s mistakes is “unjust and very arbitrary.” In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Abani wondered how a person can be punished for the crime of a political system. He pointed out that at the time of the crime, Hannibal was just a child. As for al-Saadi, Gaddafi's family was informed by its lawyer that al-Saadi, who had been imprisoned in al-Hadabah since Niger handed him over in March 2014, has disappeared. Yet, Sadiq al-Sour, head of investigations at the prosecutor's office, explained that al-Saadi did not leave the prison. On April 3, al-Saadi’s lawyer, Mubaraka al-Tawergi, said that the court had cleared al-Saadi of charges related to the murder of the former al-Ittihad player and coach Bashir al-Riyani. Al-Saadi is still in prison even though the court had issued its verdict three months ago. Judicial sources say he is on trial for other misdemeanours like kidnapping, and financing armed groups.

Many Libyans are divided about the future of Gaddafi's sons and their presence inside the country, according to a political source from Tripoli. “There are tribes and parties who do not mind their return and rather welcome their integration into the political system,” the source added. The source, who declined to be named, told Asharq Al-Awsat that some politicians do not want Gaddafi's sons, especially Saif al-Islam, in Libya’s political life. He spoke about "an uncertain future for the family itself amid Saif al-Islam’s disappearance” who is wanted internationally, his sister’s Aisha’s residence outside the country, and al-Saadi's imprisonment. Khamis, Gaddafi's seventh son, worked in the United States when the Libyan "revolution" erupted, but returned to Libya and was killed in August 2011. Also, Saif al-Arab, Gaddafi's sixth son, was killed after returning from Munich on April 30, 2011. Saif al-Islam had not been seen since Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Brigade, in control of al-Zintan town, released him on June 11, 2017. The brigade said at the time that it released the man at the request of the interim government. However, some people who claim to be close to him, have maintained his presence in the political scene by speaking on his behalf or issuing statements attributed to him, saying that he intends to run for the upcoming presidential elections, before others denied such statements altogether. Saif al-Islam is wanted by Libyan judicial authorities after he was sentenced to death in absentia in 2015 for his role in the "suppression of the 2011 revolution”. In addition, the International Criminal Court also requested Saif al-Islam be tried for crimes against humanity during his father's presidency.

Libyan politician Suleiman al-Bayoudi expressed regret for "the absence of any role for the Libyan government in the arrest of Hannibal in Lebanon and its circumstances." Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Bayoudi called on the Libyan authorities to clarify to Libyans about the Hannibal case, and “have a legal and diplomatic role to defend any Libyan citizen." As for Aisha, she has been put on the EU list of Libyan personnel whose bank accounts had been frozen and are banned from travelling. The European Union’s General Court lifted the sanctions on Aisha in March last year and a travel ban on her mother Safia was also lifted.

Lebanon Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Is Plea for Peace in Middle East

by ncregister.com -- Doreen Abi Raad -- BEIRUT — For the fifth consecutive year, Lebanon and all of the Middle East has been consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The consecrations were in response to a request of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East held in the Vatican in October 2012 under Pope Benedict XVI. Building up momentum for the first consecration in June 2013, the “Mother of Light” statue toured Lebanon, visiting 333 Lebanese villages and cities over 40 days. Since then, Lebanon has grappled with crises, including the ominous threat of the conflict in neighboring Syria spilling over; the strain of hosting some 1.5 million Syrian refugees; and a presidential vacuum that dragged on for more than two years. Meanwhile, the country suffers from a continuous economic downslide and severe unemployment.

Still, Cardinal Bechara Rai attested in his homily at the new consecration this year, which took place June 3, how, “for all these five years, Mary, with her invisible hand, has kept our homeland safe from collapse, every time it reached the brink.” “With this need for mercy in our homeland and in the countries of the Middle East, we have come to renew our devotion and consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,” he said. Despite the instability in the region, there is hope that the fruits of the consecration of Lebanon and the entire Middle East to the Immaculate Heart of Mary will prevail. “We believe that with the intercession of the Virgin Mary, wars can stop,” Maronite Bishop of Tyre Shukrallah Nabil El-Hajj, who heads the patriarchal committee for the consecration, told the Register. “We don’t always know how the Virgin Mary works and protects, but surely there are graces for all the Middle East, and she is saving souls. We won’t know to what extent until we reach heaven.” In his homily for this year’s consecration, Cardinal Rai also reiterated how the Virgin Mary appeared to the three shepherd children in the Portuguese village of Fatima and told them, “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” Last year, the consecration occurred in Fatima, commemorating the centennial of the apparitions.

Cardinal Rai and Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan led a delegation of bishops and some 30 priests. Thousands of faithful from the Middle East as well as the Lebanese diaspora from around the world also made the pilgrimage for the June 25, 2017, consecration, which was preceded the evening before with the recitation of the Rosary and a candlelit procession. In his homily at Fatima, Cardinal Rai said, “We have come to ask for the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima for peace in the Middle East region and for stability in Lebanon, to preserve our country’s mission and model of coexistence among religions and cultures, especially among Christians and Muslims.” About 40% of the approximate 4 million Lebanese citizens residing in Lebanon are Christian. “We have come to renew the dedication of Lebanon and the countries of the Middle East to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, according to her wishes. This dedication is to repent, to stop wars and to consolidate peace,” Cardinal Rai added.

Berri Says Lebanon Preparing to Legalize Medicinal Marijuana

by AFP -- The Lebanese parliament will soon review legislation to legalize medicinal marijuana, Speaker Nabih Berri announced on Wednesday, as authorities seek ways to jumpstart the country's struggling economy. With public debt at 150% of GDP, the third highest rate in the world, Lebanon charged consulting firm McKinsey & Company with setting out a vision to revitalize growth. McKinsey's proposal, submitted this month to President Michel Aoun, included a recommendation to legalize and regularize the production and sale of marijuana. Lebanese lawmakers may soon take action, Berri told the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard. "Lebanon's parliament is preparing to study and adopt the necessary laws to legalize the growth and consumption of hash for medicinal purposes, like a number of European countries and some U.S. states," said Berri. Consuming, growing and selling marijuana are all illegal in Lebanon. But in the eastern Bekaa Valley, long marginalized by the central government, its widespread production has become a multi-million-dollar industry. That could be brought under the government's wing, said caretaker Trade and Economy Minister Raed Khoury. He told reporters this month that McKinsey's proposal included "establishing areas to grow cannabis for medical purposes, within a comprehensive legal, regulatory framework."

Cannabis production blossomed during Lebanon's 1975-1990 conflict. Even when the chaos of conflict ended, authorities struggled to clamp down on the trade. Security forces regularly bust attempted drug exports at Beirut airport and have also gone to the source, destroying thousands of hectares (acres) of marijuana fields. Growers have fought back and farmers have protested of the lack of a viable alternative for their livelihood. In 2012, they fired rockets at army bulldozers trying to raze their product. The trade is mostly controlled by powerful families in the country's east, many of whom are well-connected enough to evade arrest warrants or jail time. Activists have called for the decriminalization of marijuana use, and Lebanon's Druze leader Walid Jumblat is one of the country's oldest legalization advocates. Cannabis is typically planted in the springtime in Lebanon and harvested in September, then sun-dried for three days, chilled and pressed. The economy has been in a downward spiral for years, with political divisions paralyzing the government and corruption draining resources. The outbreak of violence in neighboring Syria in 2011 added to those woes, keeping tourists away and triggering an influx of refugees that has strained public services. SourceAgence France Presse

Emirates celebrates 5 million passengers in Beirut

Dubai – WEBWIRE – Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, celebrated its 5 million passenger mark at Beirut Rafic Al Hariri International Airport. The airline has been operating in Lebanon for more than 27 years and in celebration of this milestone, a handful of passengers were treated to Business Class upgrades to Dubai. “Emirates’ 27 years of service and growth in Lebanon is a testament to our commitment to the country. We proudly connect Lebanese nationals to and from Beirut on our 21 weekly flights with their friends and family, and we hope that our operations continue to grow from strength to strength,” said Tamador Kouatly, Regional Manager Levant. Emirates launched its service to Beirut in 1991, operating 3 weekly flights. Since then, Emirates has expanded to offer three daily flights utilising a mix of Boeing 777 aircraft, connecting travellers to destinations across the Far East, Southeast Asia and Africa via its Dubai hub. Emirates connects Lebanese residents and nationals to over 160 global destinations through Dubai, with cities in Australia, Far East, South Asia, Indian Ocean and Africa being amongst the most popular destinations. Since 2015, the airline has also transported over 54,000 tons of cargo to and from the country, supporting businesses and exporters. Main commodities exported from Lebanon bound for the UAE and beyond to the Emirates network include fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables.

Ancient relics of Saint Marina the Monk arrive in Lebanon

by lebaneseexaminer.com -- The ancient relics of Saint Marina the Monk have landed at the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, the state-run Lebanese National News agency reported. Saint Marina’s preserved body arrived in a glass box, and was transported to the Maronite Patriarchate in Dimane. According to Christian teachings, Marina lived in Lebanon’s Kadisha Valley as a monk in the 5th century. She was disguised as a man under the name Marinos. Marina renounced women’s clothing and said she wanted to live as a monk to dedicate her life to religion, Maronite accounts said. Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and Maronite religious representatives welcomed the relics of Saint Marina at the airport, and watched the transfer from Venice to Lebanon. The relics were kept and venerated in Venice by the Catholic Church for nearly 200 years. The relics will remain in Lebanon until July 23, NNA added

Lebanese Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Darian: There is no Middle East without Christians

by indcatholicnews.com -- The Middle East will no longer exist, if the exodus of the Christians continues, Sheikh Abdel Latif Darian, Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, said yesterday, during the graduation ceremony for 350 students from the Makased institutes, the Lebanese Islamic private schools. "We live in the same country with Christians, we share the air and the daily bread. We have the same destiny: our future will either be together or not," said the official representative of the Lebanese Sunni community. He said attacks on Christians were a crime against the entire population. During the ceremony, held in the presence of government representatives, Sheikh Abdel Latif Darian invited students to enjoy their special day. He appealed to them to stay in their country. Non-state schools in the Lebanon are going through a crisis he said, but he was confident that Islamic schools will continue to educate new generations in the healthy principles of citizenship, to the love for the Arab identity and to the sense of brotherhood towards the whole human family. Elected Mufti of the Lebanese Republic in August 2014 65-year-old Abdel Latif Darian is known as a man of dialogue and peace. From his first speeches after his election, he has criticised the clashes between Shiites and Sunnis that heavily contribute to the destabilisation of the Middle East and condemned attacks on the local Christian communities.

Family of Lebanese Nizar Zakka Imprisoned in Iran wants to Know Why His Release was Blocked

by dailystar.com.lb -- Relatives of Lebanese citizen Nizar Zakka, who is imprisoned in Iran, requested that officials ask an Iranian representative due to visit Lebanon why a deal signed in June on Zakka’s release was not implemented. Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hussein Jabri Ansari will travel to Lebanon for an official visit early next week, representatives of detained Lebanese national Nizar Zakka announced Saturday. The agreement signed between Lebanon and Iran in June stated that Zakka would be freed and allowed to return to his country on Eid al-Fitr mid-June on three conditions. The terms included stopping the circulation of developments on the Zakka case in the media and putting an end to the prisoner’s open-ended hunger strike. The agreement also required caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil to send a letter to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Zarif, demanding the release of Zakka. Despite the Lebanese side meeting all conditions, he was not released, the statement said. This article has been adapted from its original source. The Daily Star