Libyan Islamic Fighting Group

The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) also known as "Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya" is the most powerful radical faction waging "Jihad" against Colonel Moammar al-Qadhafi.Shortly after the 9-11 attacks, LIFG was banned worldwide (as an affiliate of al-Qaeda) by the UN 1267 Committee. [http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/committees/1267/tablelist.htm UN list of affiliates of al-Qaeda and the Taliban] ] On 7 February 2006 the UN embargoed five specific LIFG members and four corporations, all of whom had continued to operate in England until at least October 2005. Those nine are in the following table; the accusations are according to the US State Department. [http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/js4016.htm Treasury Designates UK-Based Individuals, Entities Financing Al Qaida-Affiliated LIFG] , US State Department]

LIGF was founded in the fall of 1995 by Libyans who had fought against Soviet forces in Afghanistan. It aims to establish an Islamic state in Libya and views the current regime as oppressive, corrupt and anti-Muslim, according to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. LIFG claimed responsibility for a failed assassination attempt against Qadhafi in February 1996, which was in part funded by MI6 according to David Shayler, and engaged Libyan security forces in armed clashes during the mid-to-late 1990s. [cite news
author=Gary Gambill
url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=411&issue_id=3275&article_id=2369477
title= The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)
publisher=The Jamestown Foundation
date=Monday March 24, 2005
accessdate=2006-08-14] They continue to target Libyan interests and may engage in sporadic clashes with Libyan security forces. [US Department of State, "Patterns of Global Terrorism 2002"] They strongly deny any links with al-Qaeda and are keen to emphasize that LIFG has never carried out an attack outside Libya or against civilians.

On October 10, 2005, the United Kingdom's Home Office banned LIFG and fourteen other militant groups from operating in the UK. Under the United Kingdom's Terrorism Act 2000, being a member of a LIFG is punished by a 10-year prison term. The Financial Sanctions Unit of the Bank of England acting on behalf of HM Treasury issued the orders to freeze all their assets. [ [http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/news/2006/013.htm Bank of England|Publications|News|2006|Financial Sanctions: Al-Qa'ida and Taliban, 8 February 2006 ] ] The fourteen banned groups were::*Libyan Islamic Fighting Group:*Groupe Islamique Combattant Marocain:*Ansar al-Islam:*Al Ittihad Al Islamia:*Islamic Jihad Union:*Ansar al-Sunna:*Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin:*Harakat ul-Mujahidin/Alami:*Jundallah:*Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan:*Lashkar-e Jhangvi:*Khuddam u-Islam:*Jamaat ul Furquan:*Harakat ul Jihad ul Islami:*Harakat ul Islami (Bangladesh)

Mohammed Benhammedi lived and worked in Liverpool at the time of the UN sanction against him. Sergey Zakurko, the father to his Lithuanian mistress was suspended from his job at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) for fear that the link could pose a security threat. [cite news
url=http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16732451&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=al-qaida-accused--linked-to-n-plant-terror-threat---name_page.html
title=Al-Qaida accused 'linked to N-plant terror threat'
publisher=Liverpool Daily Post
date=22 February 2006
accessdate=2006-08-14 ]

One of al-Qaeda's most senior members, Atiyah Abdul-Rahman, is purportedly a member of LIFG as well. [http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=atiyah_abd Wanted: Atiyah Abd al Rahman] , Rewards for Justice Program, US Department of State]

The "Summary of Evidence" from Mohammed Fenaitel Mohamed Al Daihani's Combatant Status Review Tribunal.states:"The Sanabal Charitable Committee is considered a fund raising front for the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group." [http://wid.ap.org/documents/detainees/fenaitelaldaihani.pdf Summary of Evidence (.pdf)] from pages 25-26 of Mohammed Fenaitel Mohamed Al Daihani's Combatant Status Review Tribunal]

Ayman al-Zawahiri claim adherence between al Qaeda and Libyan Islamic Fighting Group

A statement attributed to Ayman al-Zawahiri claims that the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group has joined al-Qaeda.

Mass release of captives

On April 9 2008 "Al Jazeera" reported that Libya released at least over 90 members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.cite news
url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AA64F530-BCA8-40B0-8226-22154CCD1032.htm
title=Libya releases scores of prisoners
publisher=Al Jazeera
date=Wednesday, April 9, 2008
accessdate=2008-04-10
quote=] cite news
url=http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.2055009989
title=Libya: Scores of prisoners released from jail
publisher=Adkronos International
author=
date=April 9 2008
accessdate=2008-04-10
quote=The group was formed in the mid-1990s in Afghanistan by some veterans of the war against the Soviet forces.] The Greek press agency "Adnkronos International" reported the release was due to the efforts of Sayf al-Islam Gaddafi, a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and leader of the charity Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Associations. It reported that a third of the LIFG members Libya was holding were released.

"Adnkronos International" reported that the group was founded in Afghanistan by Abu Laith Al Libi and other veterans of Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Denouncement of al Qaeda

In November 2007 Noman Benotman, described as the "ex-head of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group", published on open to al Qaaed.cite news
url=http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/06/08/2008-06-08_how_muslim_extremists_are_turning_on_osa.html
title=How Muslim extremists are turning on Osama Bin Laden
publisher=New York Daily News
author=Paul Cruikshank
date=Sunday, June 8 2008
accessdate=2008-06-09
quote=] cite news
url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article4087373.ece
title=Al-Qaeda: the cracks begin to show
publisher=The Times
author=Abul Taher
date=Sunday, June 8 2008
accessdate=2008-06-09
quote=In November last year Noman Benotman, ex-head of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group which is trying to overthrow the regime of Muammar Gadaffi, published a letter which asked Al-Qaeda to give up all its operations in the Islamic world and in the West, adding that ordinary westerners were blameless and should not be attacked.] cite news
url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/255860
title=Op-Ed: Al Qaeda Is Losing Support Among Jihadists
publisher=Digital Journal
date=Sunday, June 8 2008
accessdate=2008-06-09
quote=] According to "The Times":

Noman Benotman's letter to Zawahiri was published in Akhbar Libya (News) as an op-ed clarification in November 2007. The gist is that Al-Qaeda's efforts have been counterproductive and used as "subterfuge" by some Western countries' to extend their regional ambitions. These comments were first aired at a meeting in Kundahar in the summer of 2000 [http://www.akhbarlibya-english.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=40 .]

External links

* [http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/nefalifg1007.pdf Dossier: Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)] NEFA, October 2007

Notes