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Libyan Militia Blamed for Attack on U.S. Consulate Denies Responsibility

September 19, 2012, 11:13 am
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
A BBC Arabic interview with Mohammad Ali al-Zahawi, commander of the Islamist, Libyan militia blamed for the deadly attack on the American consulate in Benghazi last week.

Having taken up arms during the revolt against Colonel Qaddafi, Mr. Zahawi, 44, insisted in the Arabic-language interview that the brigade needed to hold into its weapons because of the continuing uncertainty about Libya's future. “We are in a battle with the liberals, the secularists and the remnants of Qaddafi,” he said, relaxing in a Western-style shirt and jeans in the brigade's fortified compound. “Our brave youths will continue their struggle until they impose Sharia. ”

In another interview, published by Foreign Policy, Mr. Zahawi told the Irish Times correspondent Mary Fitzgerald: “We cannot exclude the hand of the Qaddafi loyalists,” in the attack. “Everything is possible in this case.”

In his interview with the BBC, Mr. Zahawi acknowledged taking part in the destruction of shrines and graves revered by Sufi Muslims.

Video showing ultraconservative Muslims in Libya destroying a Sufi Muslim shrine in Tripoli last month.

Many ultraconservatives consider Sufis heretics, and Unesco, the United Nations cultural organization has recently raised alarms about militant Islamist desecration of historically important Sufi sites. “It is a religious duty to remove these shrines because people worship the deceased and this is prohibited,” Mr. Zahawi said. “It is not me who says so but rather our religion.”

Mosque in front of @Radissonlibya today 6AM #Tripoli #Libya http://t.co/WXu5vSLp

- David Bachmann (@david_bachmann_) 25 Aug 12

Even while denying responsibility for the deadly assault on the consulate, the Islamist commander was notably sympathetic to the attack, and the killing of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. “There is a massive American onslaught on Muslim countries,” he said. “The crusaders want to occupy our countries and act as our guardians. They do not respect our sovereignty.”

“Al Qaeda's strategy is aimed at weakening US hegemony on the Muslim nation,” he said approvingly. Recent statements from Al Qaeda's new leader Ayman al-Zawahri calling for more violence “were a wake-up call for Muslims,” the commander said. Al Qaeda's statements †œhelp galvanize the Muslim nation, maintain its dignity and pride,” he said. “Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri is keen on safeguarding Muslim rights.”

As for the killing of Mr. Stevens, Mr. Zahawi asked rhetorically, “Do you think that the killing of the U.S. ambassador is more heinous than the several insults made about the Prophet?” He added: “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.”

“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.