Libya officially recognizes Muslim Brotherhood

TRIPOLI — The Muslim Brotherhood has been officially approved as a civil institution in Libya by the Ministry of Culture and Civil Society. It submitted its application on 24 May. It is registered as a community services and public awareness organization.

Bashir Kibti, General Secretary of the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya, said that the group’s legitimacy was based on the fact that it had been operating in Libya since 1949 and had continued to exist under the Gaddafi regime despite the dictator’s laws against such organizations. Kibti stressed that the Brotherhood was a social and and cultural organisation and not a political party of any sort.

The Justice and Construction Party is effectively the Brotherhood’s political arm. Contrary to many expectations including its own, it was largely rejected by Libyan voters in last month’s elections. — Libya Herald