Al-Ghariani and the Judiciary: Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood Continues Its Calls for Chaos and Destabilization
In a new move within the ongoing campaign of incitement against Libya’s institutions, the mufti of extremist groups, Sadiq al-Ghariani, has launched fresh verbal attacks on the judiciary.
Al-Ghariani targeted the Supreme Constitutional Court — the country’s highest judicial authority — describing it as a “court of discord,” a religiously charged term intended to incite public opinion against it and to serve the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood organization.
In controversial remarks broadcast on his own television channel Al-Tanasuh, al-Ghariani stated that the Constitutional Court, established by Army Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh, “must be removed” and “cannot be tolerated.” He described it as “illegitimate both legally and religiously.”
Going further, he likened the court to the “mosque of discord” mentioned in religious texts, which he said was built “to divide the ranks of Muslims.”
Al-Ghariani claimed that the court was designed to shield Haftar and enable him to run in the presidential elections, despite existing laws that prohibit dual nationals from running for office. He argued that its creation was “a mockery of the Libyan people” and “a manipulation of the nation’s destiny.”
He also denounced the Libyan Parliament that approved the court’s formation, alleging that it “lacked legitimacy” and served as “a tool for foreign intelligence agencies and the Zionist project.”
This is not the first time al-Ghariani has incited unrest and division. Since his dismissal as Libya’s grand mufti in November 2014 by parliamentary decree, he has continued to exploit his former position to issue fatwas promoting violence and legitimizing chaos — particularly against Libya’s military institution.
Known among Libyans as the “Mufti of Destruction,” al-Ghariani has a long record of religious rulings that have fueled internal armed conflicts. Notably, he has openly called on militias to take to the streets and block elections, a move widely seen as an attempt to sabotage any peaceful democratic process.
Despite being officially removed from office, al-Ghariani still presides over the so-called “Dar al-Ifta” in Tripoli, backed by extremist militias that provide him with protection in return for religious cover that justifies their armed activities and transgressions against the state.
