The “Post-Gadhafi” Kingmaker

Doug Saunders writes on the Islamist movement in Libya specifically citing Mohammed Busidra as the “post-Gadhafi kingmaker.”  Busidra is an “Islamist ringleader who escaped the 1996 one-day massacre of 1,200 of his fellow inmates and survived a decade in solitary confinement.”  Throughout the protests against Libyan Leader Muammar Gadhafi, Saunders writes that Busidra has “brought together Libya’s disparate moderate Islamist leaders into the country’s only united political force.”  Additionally, Busidra has written a constitution that the Islamist leaders agree on and are now working to organize the mosques into a “political machine.” According to Saunders, Busidra’s constitution does not “impose” Sharia law, however it insists that “no law be passed which offends the principles of Islam.”  The constitution allows for the unveiling of women’s heads, but insists, that alcohol and homosexuality will be illegal.

Busidra’s work has resulted in many believing that he will likely gain leadership in the country in the event of Gadhafi’s demise.  Many of his opponents have expressed increasing alarm over this development especially since the Busidra’s Islamist organization mostly remains outside of Libya’s National Transitional Council.

Additionally, Saunders writes that Busidra’s “network is formidable” as it includes the Muslim Brotherhood, the February 17 Martyrs’ Brigade, and a “half-dozen other imams and leaders well known in Libya, including more moderate former members of the long-banned Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.