Kadhafi family, media matters dominate Libyan blogs

2009-10-30

Libyan bloggers this week talked about attempts to ban Facebook, the new responsibilities of Seif al-Islam al-Kadhafi, and freedom of the press.

By Jamel Arfaoui for Magharebia in Tunis – 30/10/09

[Mahmud Turkia/AFP/Getty Images] Press freedoms, attempts to tame Facebook, and the Khadhafi family top the recent posts by Libya's bloggers.

The Libyan blogosphere continues to buzz with the news that Seif al-Islam al-Kadhafi, son of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, was named second-in-command with extensive state powers early this month. Meanwhile, the arrest in Switzerland of Kadhafi's other son, Hannibal, is also driving bloggers into a frenzy.

Ezz Eddine Dwaily, on his New Libya blog, writes a message to Kadhafi's son, with the headline "Mr. Seif al-Islam: We're Not Fine!". In it, the blogger urges the younger Kadhafi to improve living conditions and strengthen progress and development in the country.

"I shall be frank and clear…We have become fed up with the painful reality that no longer appeals to anyone," writes Dwaily. "The revolution was carried out in order to ensure decent life in a society where the banners of freedom and equality prevail. And because you, Seif, have become closer to the Libyan people in a serious attempt to put an end to corruption and corrupters, and to spread reforms and equality among the members of this free Jamahiriya society, and as it is you who is leading the process of reform, clean-up and development, I would like to say it frankly that we're not fine."

Fathallah Serqioh wonders in his New Libya blog why top government jobs are never offered to other intellectuals.

"Isn't there anyone else in Libya who can deliver it from the pawns of backwardness other than those who have been assuming the top posts in the Libyan state?" queries the blogger. "Libya is full of intellectuals, educated people and experts who the state of chaos didn't allow the necessary opportunities to contribute to our march to progress in order to catch up with the procession of civilisation; popular rule doesn't recognize the principle of inheritance."

Touching on another issue, Selim Rukaey asks in his I'm a Libyan Migrant why Libya should be burdened with the problems of Kadhafi's family.

"Day after day, Col. Kadhafi implicates us and the Libyan state in this whirlpool of personal and familial problems that Libyans have nothing to do with," he writes. "The cause of the problem occurring today between Switzerland, a state of law, and between the Kadhafi regime, is that Mr. Hannibal – Col. Moamer Kadhafi's son – made a shameful mistake that is rejected by all customs and laws of justice when he harshly assaulted his Arab servants."

"Col. Kadhafi should have rebuked his son... If the regime doesn't hurry to put an end to this problem, it may become bigger and Libya may enter into a new whirlpool such as that of Lockerbie!" adds the blogger.

The state of Libya's media, meanwhile, grabbed the eye of blogger Issa Abdel Kayoum in his Libyan Journal blog. He discusses the findings issued by Reporters Without Borders and their very low ranking of the country's press freedoms.

"We see summons accompanied by threats against journalist Mohammed Sarit on the backdrop of press reportage," muses the blogger. "We are also witnessing the exclusion of the press from the discussions conducted over the last week on Col. Kadhafi's request."

"All this makes us say something for God and for the media before it suffocates, but I don't know what to say; the words have become repetitive," adds Kayoum. "We need the state to take action; we need the journalists to react. Gentlemen, we are at the bottom of the list. Does this mean anything to you?"

Tackling the thorny subject of social media websites, Tarek Siala discusses the futility of Arab states' bids to ban sites like Facebook, over claims that some postings defame the Prophet Mohammed. Siala notes that all efforts to ban the sites have ended in failure, and mulls the prospects for success of more grass-roots efforts such as boycotts.

"Saturday, 24 October 2009, was dedicated to boycotting Facebook," writes the blogger. "However, it would have been more effective to notify Facebook management about the forums that offend Muslims' feelings. Based on the response of the management, we shall act….I encourage the smart boycott that seeks change and not the boycott for the sake of the word 'boycott' in and of itself."