July 18-25: Al-Werfalli Stars in Most Recent LNA Prisoner of War Execution Video

Jul 26, 2017 | Other Jihadi Actors

 

A new video featuring the notorious LNA Saiqa Special Forces senior commander, Mahmoud al-Werfalli, directing the execution of prisoners of war was released on 23 July. Earlier this year Haftar rejected Werfalli’s resignation from Saiqa following widespread condemnation of the cruel behavior he exhibited in earlier videos. In the most recent edition, al-Werfalli is shown reading out charges as 18 prisoners dressed in orange jump suits are shot in the back of the head at point-blank range by militia men. The video release follows a renewed call by the UN to the LNA to investigate the summary executions of prisoners, prompted by concerns over human rights abuses. The prisoners of war are believed to belong to ISIS, and the video is captured with a similar style of choreography to the infamous ISIS execution videos.

On 21 July, Presidency Council (PC) head Faiez Serraj condemned the fatwa damning Ibadi Muslims as infidels that was issued by the Awqaf (endowments) and is supported by the Islamic affairs authority that is part of the Beida-based interim government. Ibadi Muslims constitute a large proportion of Libya’s Amazigh community, and the edict has produced a massive outcry, both from the Amazigh and the non-Amazigh communities in the country

Serraj said that the edict incited hatred, and risked inflaming tensions, and instead suggested the country practice compassion and unity. Over 200 prominent Libyans from a variety of different backgrounds have attacked the fatwa for inflaming sectarian violence and compared the Salafist-controlled Awqaf office to the “terrorist groups” which disrupted elections in Derna three years ago.