Abdul Hafiz Ghoga
Encyclopedia
Abdul Hafiz Ghoga is a Libya
n human rights
lawyer, who rose to prominence as the spokesman for the National Transitional Council
, a body formed in Benghazi
during the 2011 Libyan civil war
. On 23 March, he became the Vice Chairman for the Council.
massacre.
created during the 2011 Libyan civil war
and acts as its spokesperson. Ghoga has argued that the Council is working for a unified Libya, rather than letting rebel-controlled areas separate from areas controlled by Muammar Gaddafi
; "There is no such thing as a divided Libya".
On 27 February, he said that the Council was not seeking foreign intervention. On 20 March, he announced that over 8000 people opposed to Gaddafi had been killed. He criticised a comment by Arab League
Secretary-General Amr Moussa
that was critical of the way in which the Libyan no-fly zone was implemented. Ghoga stated, "Today, when the secretary general spoke, I was surprised. What is the mechanism that stops the extermination of the people in Libya, what is the mechanism, Mr. Secretary General? If the protection of civilians is not a humanitarian obligation, what is the mechanism that you propose to us?"
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
n human rights
Human rights in Libya
The Kingdom of Libya, from 1951 to 1969, was heavily influenced and educated by the British and American oil companies. The King was very westernized and Libya also had a constitution. The kingdom, however, was marked by a feudal regime, where Libya had a low literacy rate of 10%, a low life...
lawyer, who rose to prominence as the spokesman for the National Transitional Council
National Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
, a body formed in Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
during the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
. On 23 March, he became the Vice Chairman for the Council.
Abu Salim prison massacre
Abdul Hafiz Ghoga was actively involved in legal representation for the families of people killed in the 1996 Abu Salim prisonAbu Salim prison
Abu Salim prison is a top security prison in Tripoli, Libya which was often described as notorious for mistreatment and human rights abuses by human rights activists and other observers before the overthrow of the government of 40 years standing in 2011....
massacre.
2011 Libyan civil war
Ghoga was a member of the National Transitional CouncilNational Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
created during the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
and acts as its spokesperson. Ghoga has argued that the Council is working for a unified Libya, rather than letting rebel-controlled areas separate from areas controlled by Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
; "There is no such thing as a divided Libya".
On 27 February, he said that the Council was not seeking foreign intervention. On 20 March, he announced that over 8000 people opposed to Gaddafi had been killed. He criticised a comment by Arab League
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
Secretary-General Amr Moussa
Amr Moussa
Amr Mohammed Moussa is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the Secretary-General of the Arab League, a 22-member forum representing Arab states, from 1 June 2001 until 1 June 2011. He is a candidate in the 2011 Egyptian presidential election....
that was critical of the way in which the Libyan no-fly zone was implemented. Ghoga stated, "Today, when the secretary general spoke, I was surprised. What is the mechanism that stops the extermination of the people in Libya, what is the mechanism, Mr. Secretary General? If the protection of civilians is not a humanitarian obligation, what is the mechanism that you propose to us?"
External links
- Profile at the NTC, with photo