Meeting Mohammad Ali al-Zahawi of Libyan Ansar al-Sharia
By Ahmed Maher BBC Arabic, Benghazi
18 September 2012 Last updated at 14:55 GMT
Mohammad Ali al-Zahawi, the commander of Libya's largest Islamist brigade,
is not known among Benghazi residents as a person who wants to attract media
attention.
But in recent days Ansar al-Sharia has come under the spotlight.
The death of US ambassador Christopher Stevens in a military-style attack on
the US consulate in Benghazi was the latest episode of violence attributed
to his brigade - though no evidence has backed such accusations.
In an unusual move, Mr Zahawi agreed to give his first interview to an
international broadcaster - giving a glimpse into his ideology.
"We are a brigade not a movement," he told BBC Arabic TV at the brigade's
fortified headquarters in the heartland of Libya's second largest city.
"We formed our brigade after the toppling of tyrant [Muammar] Gaddafi.
"We took part in the liberation of Libya but now they are many brigades with
different ideologies."
Once the dust settled after the internecine conflict last year, many
brigades have emerged across Libya.
Attempts by governing officials to encourage their commanders to disarm have
almost proved futile.
Ansar al-Sharia is no exception.
"It is not the right time we give up our arms because we are in a battle
with the liberals, the secularists and the remnants of Gaddafi," explained
Mr Zahawi, 44, who was wearing jeans and a black checked shirt.
Nervous
The brigade's building is just minutes away from the city centre.
A group of heavily armed young men with growing beards mans the main
entrance.
They were nervous about our camera. The instructions were clear: Do not show
our faces and no filming inside.
Inside, our movement was restricted to one room and its attached hall where
we interviewed Mr Zahawi.
The brigade is operating openly like many others since the ousting of Col
Gaddafi last year.
And they have a goal they have not achieved yet.
"Our brave youths will continue their struggle until they impose Sharia," Mr
Zahawi said confidently.
The brigade has an ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam.
Mr Zahawi confirmed in the interview that his brigade had demolished and
desecrated Sufi shrines in Benghazi, which they regard as idolatrous.
"It is a religious duty to remove these shrines because people worship the
deceased and this is prohibited. It is not me who says so but rather our
religion."
'No al-Qaeda link'
Mr Zahawi believes that the United States has an agenda.
"Make no mistake, there is a massive American onslaught on Muslim countries.
The crusaders want to occupy our countries and act as our guardians. They do
not respect our sovereignty," he said.
His brigade was not linked to al-Qaeda though he thoroughly approves of its
strategy, he said.
"Al-Qaeda's strategy is aimed at weakening US hegemony on the Muslim
nation," he said.
Asked what he thinks of recent statements made by al-Qaeda leader Ayman
al-Zawahiri, Mr Zahawi said: "Such statements are a wake-up call for
Muslims.
"They help galvanise the Muslim nation, maintain its dignity and pride.
"Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri is keen on safeguarding Muslim rights."
Mr Zahawi reiterated his brigade was not behind the attack on 12 September
on the US consulate in Benghazi.
But he stopped short of condemning the death of the US ambassador.
"Do you think that the killing of the US ambassador is more heinous than the
several insults made about the Prophet, peace be upon him?" he asked.
The US ambassador and three other US consulate staff were killed when the
consulate was set ablaze in protests over an anti-Islam film made in the US.
"I swear by God that we can tolerate the killing of all people and wiping
all countries off the map but we cannot tolerate a single swear word that
could hurt our prophet," he said.
"They are weeping buckets on this ambassador but they won't shed any tears
when dozens of Muslims are injured in these protests against the blasphemous
film."
After 40 minutes the interview - which was closely watched over by his armed
guards and his media assistant - came to an end.
We had expected it to be a short meeting, but Mr Zahawi had relaxed and
warmed to his subject.
He shook our hands warmly before we left, though this friendly manner did
not extend to the guards who escorted us to our vehicle.
Mohammad Ali Al-Zahawi, the commander of Ansar al-Sharia
Our brave youths will continue their struggle until they impose Sharia"
Mohammad Ali al-Zahawi Commander of Ansar al-Sharia
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Received on Tue Sep 18 2012 - 18:13:06 EDT
