UN independent experts condemn destruction of Sufi religious sites in Libya

“The attacks on Sufi religious sites require a swift and rigorous response by the authorities, without which they are likely to continue and spread,”  a joint statement by special rapporteurs. Last week the Llibyan Minister of Interior, Fawzi Abdelal, having resigned over the issue then cancelled his resignation and said that his forces did not have the appropriate weapons and that no grave was worth the life of a single person. A "swift and rigorous response by the authorities" is therefore unlikely. After the standoff with the International Criminal Court (ICC)  and the Libyan authorities , western authorities need to win government support and backing

In August, several  Libyan Sufi sites were destroyed, including one of Libya’s most important Sufi shrines, Sidi Abdul- Salam al-Asmar al-Fituri in Zliten, and the Al-Sha’ab Mosque in central Tripoli. Tombs were desecrated and libraries were also targeted.Right wing islamists are said to regard sufism as heresy.An attack by islamist on a shrine at Ramaji was beaten off by local inhabitants  and a local army brigade also engaged the islamists which is a more hopeful sign.
 
The destruction of Sufi shrines in Timbuktu showed that UNESCO could only highlight wanton destruction of religious sites which are cultural treasures and the attacks on minority rights. This is important but unless there is local support by government, there is little that can be done. As  financial support from the Gulf pours into the Maghreb a harsher wahhibi doctrines are displacing the traditional Malakite moderation. The destruction of sufi shrines also spreads a message of intolerance and a threat to religious minorities. Hopefully the new National Congress Government will elect a government which has more power that its predecessor to curb violent excesses fanatics and armed groups.