On the evening of 25 January, Aqeela Belqassim Aqeela Saleh, the grandson of House of Representatives (HoR) Speaker Aqeela Saleh, killed Hamad al-Ghaithi, a teacher at al-Ikhlas Secondary School, in al-Qubba. The murder reportedly occurred due to an argument between the two men over a previous traffic incident. In response, the al-Ghaithi family reportedly expelled Aqeela Saleh and his family from al-Qubba – they travelled to Benghazi.
According to HoR member Abdul-Moneim al-Arafi, talks are underway between the two families based in local social customs whereby either a pardon will be agreed or the payment of blood money, provided the perpetrator be held accountable according to the law. This will mean HoR Speaker Saleh will be allowed to return to al-Qubba and continue his role.