Who was Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, ex-Libyan dictator's son?
What's the story
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed in Zintan. The 53-year-old was gunned down by four masked men who stormed his home. His death was confirmed by close associates, including political advisor Abdullah Othman and lawyer Khaled el-Zaydi. The office of Libya's attorney general on Wednesday said investigators and forensic doctors examined the body and determined that he died from gunshot wounds.
Political journey
Once seen as his father's successor
Saif al-Islam was once seen as his father's successor and the second-most powerful man in Libya. He remained prominent during the bloodshed that erupted in Libya following the Arab Spring protests, which triggered a civil war. There were numerous charges against him of torture and severe brutality against the opponents of his father's rule. By February 2011, he was on the United Nations sanctions list and barred from traveling.
Legal proceedings
ICC issued arrest warrant for him in 2011
In June 2011, Saif al-Islam announced his father's willingness to hold elections and to step down if he did not win but NATO rejected it. By the end of June 2011, the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant for Saif al-Islam and in July 2015, a Tripoli court sentenced him to death in absentia. He was released by a militia in 2017 as part of an amnesty issued by Libya's eastern authorities.
Political comeback
He was tried for war crimes during the uprising
However, he did not return to public life for several years and remained wanted by the ICC. In a rare July 2021 interview with The New York Times, Saif al-Islam accused Libyan officials of being "afraid of elections." In November 2021, he made his first public appearance in years in the city of Sebha, where he filed to run for Libyan president in an attempt to revive the hopes of his father's old followers.
Diplomatic role
His other achievements and proposals
He was initially barred from participating but was later reinstated. The election, though, didn't happen due to Libya's chaotic political situation, which saw two opposing administrations vie for control. Educated at the London School of Economics, Saif al-Islam presented a progressive face to the oppressive Libyan government. He played a key role in nuclear negotiations with Western powers and negotiated compensation for terrorist attack victims. He also mediated the release of six medics accused of infecting Libyan children with HIV.