TRIPOLI – The League of Libyan Ulema has issued a statement condemning the recent desecration of Sufi shrines, drawing clear links between those responsible and officials within Libya's security services. Several reports have emerged in recent days accusing members of the Supreme Security Committee of complicity in the attacks, a charge repeated by National Congress Speaker Mohammed Magarieff on Saturday. In the statement, the Ulema also accuse those responsible of having links with Saadi Gaddafi, one of Muammar Gaddafi's seven sons, who is currently in exile in Niger. Saadi has previously allied himself with the Salafists, who represent a small minority of Muslims in Libya. During a television address in February, during which he threatened to return to Libya to lead a counter-revolution, Saadi declated: “I am not a politician. I am a Salafist". The Ulema have also criticised Grand Mufti Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ghariani for issuing a fatwa “legitimisising the destruction of mosques built around a tomb". The Mufti has condemned the recent desecrations, which have nevertheless focused on shrines enclosing tombs. The Ulema call on both the National Congress and the government to take active measures both to deter future attacks and to hold those responsible to account; “to rebuild what they destroy and retrieve what they steal; as well as to hold to account those elements in the security apparatus who have betrayed their office to aid these criminals." – Libya Herald
