August 24, 2011

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) announced today it stands in solidarity with the Libyan people in toppling Col. Moammar Qaddafi’s dictatorship of tyranny.

SEE: “Rebels Storm Qaddafi Compound” (NY Times)

For more than 40 years, Qaddafi ruled his people with an iron fist, and, ultimately, it was the will of the people, who have been fighting againstall odds for more than six months, that has led to this eclipse of the era of dictators.

“This weekend’s push toward Tripoli by Libyan revolutionaries should instigate hope to all the hopeless, not just in the Middle East, but worldwide,” said MPAC Senior Adviser Dr. Maher Hathout. “This wave of change is only the beginning for a country that has sacrificed so much, too much, for freedom and liberty.

Earlier Tuesday, Libyans stormed and took control of the presidential compound in Tripoli; however, Qaddafi still has evaded forces. Qaddafi'sbrutality escalated since Libyans first took to the streets in February to demand that he step down, killing thousands of civilians across the countrythrough his abuse of power. Now, teetering on the brink of collapse, Qaddafi is in hiding and must face that his reign of terror is over.

“Please, please, please, let the international community know -- we are hungry for freedom, we are hungry for democracy, we are hungry for a stateof law and order and we would like everybody, everybody everywhere in Arab countries and in the international community to support us and help us toget that,” said Mahmoud Shammam, Information Minister of the National Transitional Council (NTC), to reporters.

It is believed that revolutionaries now control 90 percent of the country, with the rest of Libya to follow in the next few days. However, Libyans mustnow face a post-Qaddafi reality and deal with the security situation of rebuilding the country.

NTC, the rebel government based in the eastern city of Benghazi,where the uprising first began, has taken pre-emptive steps to prevent Libya fromfollowing the same path as Iraq. Libya’s power base is being moved from Benghazi to Tripoli with government officials relocating there now to starttheir jobs immediately. A stabilization team will also be convened to ensure the city remains running.

President Barack Obama, NATO and pro-democracy forces around the world should be commended for heading the call of the Libyan people and applyingthe no-fly zone since Qaddafi's forces first fired on peaceful demonstrators in February. Political pundits from both sides of the aisle criticizedPresident Obama’s strategy on Libya. The outcome of NATO’s enforcement of the no-fly zone should be a vindication of the President’s multilateralapproach to world conflicts and his ability to understand that America cannot always be the police force of the world, but can play a positive rolein assisting people who are calling for help.

These changes in the Middle East and North Africa are long overdue and are not about religious sectarianism or even global politics; they are groundedin the natural human desire to be free. We support that push toward freedom and self-determination.