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By Libya Herald staff.
30 November 2014:
A leading Libyan imam and preacher, Sheikh Mohamed Al-Jaafari , was seized last night as he left . . .[restrict]his local mosque in the Tripoli suburb of Ain Zara after Isha (evening) prayers. It is not known who kidnapped the sheikh, a prominent member of the League of Libyan Ulema.
According to reports, the family and friends contacted the police and security officials immediately but had no response.
The League has condemned the kidnapping and in a bid to help him has now named him as its head.
“He is very gentle,” said a colleague. “We hope he’s safe.”
Sheikh Idris Fadil from Beida has been appointed deputy leader.
Jaafari is not the first cleric to have disappeared in Tripoli. Sheikh Tarek Abbas was also abducted and is still missing.
The League, which represents mainstream Islam in Libya and comprise Maliki and Sufi as well as Ibadi scholars, is in conflict with the now largely Salafist Dar Al-Ifta, led by Sheikh Sadek Al-Ghariani. The latter was sacked as Grand Mufti by the House of Representatives. Based in Tripoli, however, he is still backed by Libya Dawn and the Hassi antigovernment.
Born and raised in Tripoli, Sheikh Al-Jaafari studied in Tripoli at traditional Islamic seminaries, especially the Malik bin Anas Institute – the institute that used to graduate traditionally trained Maliki jurists in Tripoli. He studied the Koran and its recitation, and the various versions of it, with one of Tripoli’s most important scholars and Koranic teachers, Sheikh Mohamed Sdaka, or Mohamed Babay, who used to teach in the kuttab (teaching place) next to Darghut Pasha Mosque.
Well known for his lessons before Friday prayers on various topics on Koranic tafsir (explanation) of Maliki jurisprudence, he is also the custodian of the Qadiriya Zawia of Old Tripoli, where he recites every year along with the residents of Tripoli the Mawlid of the Prophet called Rayhanat Al-Arwah, written by Sidi Ali Siala.
Despite a massive following of students and ordinary people in Tripoli, he started receiving threats a few months ago, according to colleagues. They say he also ran into difficulties with some of Salafists the Awqaf Ministry in Tripoli.
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