Cairo August 26, 2012

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, expressed its resentment to  demolish and destroy the tomb of Sufi sheikh, dating back to the fifth century AD in Zliten, Libya, by Salafi Islamist movements for allegations of that shrine is a representation of paganism.
A group of Islamic extremists have used explosives and bulldozers to demolish and destroy group of shrines including, the tomb of Sheikh Abdul Salam Al-Asmar, a prominent Sufi in Libya, also the set a library on fire in a historical Mosque “Semary”, which led to the destruction of thousands of valuable books which led to the collapse of the dome of the mosque and some damages occurs to the minaret full of holes, in the absence of the presence of security forces to control such acts and it is difficult to control these armed groups that refuse to handover their arms after the revolution that overthrew the tyrant Muammar Gaddafi.

It is worthy noting that these acts committed a few hours after clashes between tribal groups in the same area, which led to killing of two people and injuring of 18 others, the Salafis exploited these events and destroyed the shrine and library after threatening Mohamed Salem, Sheikh of the mosque to kill him and to destroy the shrine, which forced him to leave the city, as the forces occupied to broke up the clashes.

ANHRI said: “the Libyan authorities must exert its best efforts to restore security and control the country and work to protect the freedom of belief and freedom of thought and enable the citizens to exercise their religious rites in climate of security and meet their aspirations in the modern democratic state that respects all communities Libyan people following the success of their great revolution”

It also urged the Libyan authorities on the need to enact new legislations urging to respect the other and not to disrespect his religious beliefs and to enact laws to punish those who tries to tamper the beliefs of the others, stir up sedition and riots between citizens as well as the withdrawal of weapons from the wrong hands until it stops violence in Libya and establish the state of law that  dictator leader Muammar Gaddafi deny the Libyan people from it for decades.

ANHRI added that “the Libyan authorities must raise the value of the citizenship concept to face incitement calls and incitement to hatred as well as renounce violence. It also must raise the awareness among their citizens through initiatives, television programs and seminars that adopt approach of reconciliation and respect of the other as well as the adoption of a modern educational system that contributes to the creation of generations more able to accept the other. ”

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