By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 9 June 2014:
The Grand Mufti, Sheikh Sadik Al-Ghariani, has called on Ansar Al-Sharia to refute accusations made . . .[restrict]against it and prove its innocence. In particular, he wants it to deny that it called the government and army infidels.
“You must assure the public that you do not view the government, police, or army as infidels or heretics, which are unacceptable terms,” the Grand Mufti said.
He also told it to participate in the upcoming elections for the House of Representatives, implying that they were the right people to be elected.
“I strongly urge Ansar Al-Sharia to participate in the coming House of Representatives elections, and be part in major reform of the country. The seats will be taken by people whether we like them or not, so it is better to fill them with good people, rather hindering to fill it with bad people from whom we may suffer, as we did in the General National Congress” Sheikh Sadik added.
The Grand Mufti said that Ansar should be an example for Libyans.
“You, Ansar Al-Sharia, ought to be a better example for the rest of the people, by shaping your attitudes and manifest the true face of the Sunna and the correct implementation of the words of Allah on ground.”
At the beginning of last month, following the killing of some nine members of Saiqa forces in Benghazi, the Grand Mufti said that the government was wrong to blame it on Ansar without proof.
He has since again said that it is unjust to accuse Ansar of terrorism without providing evidence. [/restrict]
