Join me in welcoming the "Jabrieli" version of Abdul Hakim Belhadj!
Cassandra, the daughter of Priam and Hecuba, the king and queen of Troy in Greek mythology, was, according to legend, so stunningly beautiful that Apollo, an ancient Greek god, fell in love with her. He claimed to have granted her the gift of prophecy, but when Cassandra did not return his affection, Apollo, in his anger, cursed her by ensuring that no one would ever believe her predictions. Cassandra repeatedly warned her fellow citizens not to continue holding Helen of Troy captive and not to bring the Trojan Horse within the city walls, as it would bring disaster. However, no one heeded her warnings, and according to the legends, her prophecy came true as Troy fell to its enemies.
I listened attentively to the episode featuring Mr. Abdul Hakim Belhaj, the leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, on the "Atheer" podcast on Al Jazeera. This is because I am among those who believe that every figure who has played a role in Libya and had a part in its governance should share their experiences. Let’s set aside the fact that Mr. Abdul Hakim Belhaj is a man of noble struggle and a fair opponent, and let’s also set aside that the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group is a group whose characteristics closely resemble those of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad. Every person has the right to tell their personal narrative, and it is not our place to judge intentions; we can only judge what is apparent. And the apparent is what we have witnessed over the past twelve years, and we have a story to tell someday.
What caught my attention in this episode was Belhaj’s address to Libyans regarding his vision for resolving the crisis in Libya. Starting at the sixth minute and thirty seconds, Belhaj began outlining his vision, which is based on a national project that unites Libyans and transcends ideological backgrounds—whether Islamic or secular, whether from September or February. He also emphasized that Libya will endure and that everyone else will pass, that we must make concessions for the sake of the nation, and that we must sit at the dialogue table, as it is the only path that will lead us to safety. He asserted that everyone is a partner in the nation and that no one has the right to monopolize patriotism over others, affirming that Libya belongs to everyone and is for everyone.
In this part of the interview, as I listened to these words, I could only see Dr. Mahmoud Jibril before me. However, I believe that the dead do not return to life except on the Day of Resurrection, and I also believe that our lives are tied to our ideas, and that what remains for a person is only the values, principles, and path they leave behind. For this reason, I believe that what Mr. Abdul Hakim Belhaj has reached today is something that he and his group did not believe in before. This is because these very words were spoken to them over ten years ago, and they were invited to the dialogue table that Belhaj now calls for, but at that time, they believed that fate had entrusted them as guardians of Libya and that only they and their partners in political Islam (as they are described) were the ones most entitled to protect and govern Libya. They exerted all efforts to exclude everyone else without exception, and we were witnesses to that.
One might say that it is better to arrive late than never, and it is not shameful to acknowledge the correctness of someone else's ideas. After all, wisdom is the lost property of the believer, and he is entitled to claim it wherever he finds it. However, what is troubling is Mr. Abdul Hakim Belhaj’s failure to acknowledge the validity of these ideas in the past. Given that he praised his tormentors in many instances mentioned during the episode, it would have been more appropriate for him to also acknowledge those who, along with him, believed in the principle of change that February brought. He should have mentioned that this approach was advocated by Jibril when he was alive, from the very first moments of his party’s electoral victory. Belhaj and his party, along with his group and partners, were invited at that time, but they refused on the grounds that the one who proposed it was a "secularist," as they described him.
As we recount history and events, we were expecting Mr. Abdul Hakim Belhaj to acknowledge that the person who categorized people into Muslims and secularists and divided the society into supporters and opponents during the General National Congress elections was his comrade in struggle and ideological revisions (Ali al-Sallabi) and his former political partner (Mohammed Sowan), where the first divided us into secularists and Islamists, and the second affirmed that those who voted for Jibril’s party were followers of the former regime.
The historical ownership of the phrase "Libya is for everyone and by everyone" belongs exclusively to its original speaker and the one who adopted it as a behavior and ideology. We are not competing with anyone over it, nor through it, but it must be pointed out, especially since we are discussing the history of events. We lived through these events moment by moment, and we still have the memory that preserves them.
This interview represents a new phenomenon that we believe should be studied. Anyone who has followed the career and behavior of Mr. Abdul Hakim Belhaj realizes that the man has changed significantly. This confirms that political work is cumulative, requiring time and continuity. The man’s stubbornness and rigidity in many previous positions have changed to the point where he is now willing to discuss everything and with anyone, from Haftar to his brother Abdullah al-Senussi.
Cassandra's first curse was that she could foresee and predict, and her second curse was that what she predicted came to pass. Despite her concern for her people and her honesty in advising them, they did not listen to her; instead, they labeled her as insane. When Troy fell, Cassandra was the first to be taken captive, and despite knowing what would happen, she did not flee from the confrontation. Similarly, the visionaries in this country are punished simply because they can see in the darkness. That is why we are all pleased for Mr. Abdul Hakim Belhaj, as he has finally been able to see the light. And God knows best.