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Where Killings Are Common, Death of Activist Stuns Benghazi Where Killings Are Common, Death of Activist Stuns Benghazi
(2 months later)
TRIPOLI, Libya — Salwa Bugaighis, a Libyan lawyer and civil rights activist, stood on the roof of her home in Benghazi on Wednesday and watched as armed groups fought gun battles on the edges of town. TRIPOLI, Libya — Salwa Bugaighis, a Libyan lawyer and civil rights activist, stood on the roof of her home in Benghazi on Wednesday and watched as armed groups fought gun battles on the edges of town.
The fighting was “intense,” she wrote on Facebook. “Heavy smoke near the cement factory.” She seemed unconcerned about her own safety, but instead worried that the thundering clashes might discourage her fellow residents from voting during a critical national election to select a new parliament.The fighting was “intense,” she wrote on Facebook. “Heavy smoke near the cement factory.” She seemed unconcerned about her own safety, but instead worried that the thundering clashes might discourage her fellow residents from voting during a critical national election to select a new parliament.
“My people, I beg of you, there are only three hours left,” she wrote at about 5:45 p.m., before the polls closed. She posted pictures of a group of fighters downstairs from her house, and at about 8:45 p.m., she told her sister during a telephone call that her husband was going outside to talk to the men.“My people, I beg of you, there are only three hours left,” she wrote at about 5:45 p.m., before the polls closed. She posted pictures of a group of fighters downstairs from her house, and at about 8:45 p.m., she told her sister during a telephone call that her husband was going outside to talk to the men.
Within minutes, Ms. Bugaighis, 50, was dead, having been stabbed, shot and left bleeding in her living room. Her husband, Essam al-Ghariani, has not been heard from since.Within minutes, Ms. Bugaighis, 50, was dead, having been stabbed, shot and left bleeding in her living room. Her husband, Essam al-Ghariani, has not been heard from since.
The killing has stunned a nation where assassinations, kidnappings and explosions have intruded on life with a dulling regularity in the turbulent years since Libya’s revolt against the dictator Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. Judges, police officers, journalists and bystanders have died, but for many, the killing of Ms. Bugaighis represented a terrible new low. It silenced a lawyer who helped propel the 2011 uprising, a woman who tried to broaden Libya’s notions of rights and citizenship, and a charismatic leader in a place with few to spare.The killing has stunned a nation where assassinations, kidnappings and explosions have intruded on life with a dulling regularity in the turbulent years since Libya’s revolt against the dictator Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. Judges, police officers, journalists and bystanders have died, but for many, the killing of Ms. Bugaighis represented a terrible new low. It silenced a lawyer who helped propel the 2011 uprising, a woman who tried to broaden Libya’s notions of rights and citizenship, and a charismatic leader in a place with few to spare.
By Thursday, her death had eclipsed an election that was supposed to represent a milestone in Libya’s political development. Instead, people seemed to look backward, mourning the latest victim of the country’s punishing transition. “I used to tell her, this is like the aftershocks of an earthquake,” said her sister, Iman Bugaighis, who retreated from public life after the revolution, while her sister dived headlong into Libya’s pressing debates. “Everything will go. The good and the bad.”By Thursday, her death had eclipsed an election that was supposed to represent a milestone in Libya’s political development. Instead, people seemed to look backward, mourning the latest victim of the country’s punishing transition. “I used to tell her, this is like the aftershocks of an earthquake,” said her sister, Iman Bugaighis, who retreated from public life after the revolution, while her sister dived headlong into Libya’s pressing debates. “Everything will go. The good and the bad.”
The assassins remained unidentified on Thursday, but with her liberal politics and her roots in a prominent political family, Ms. Bugaighis had gathered enemies in high places. She had joined some of the first protests against Colonel Qaddafi in February 2011, when she worked as a lawyer who defended political prisoners, including Islamists. After the revolt, she and other women in her family — professionals who did not wear the veil — became the focus of a smear campaign by conservative Islamists, who all but forced Ms. Bugaighis out of the rebel leadership. Over the last few years, as she remained devoted to civic activism, Ms. Bugaighis criticized jihadists who had grown in power and influence, especially in eastern Libya.The assassins remained unidentified on Thursday, but with her liberal politics and her roots in a prominent political family, Ms. Bugaighis had gathered enemies in high places. She had joined some of the first protests against Colonel Qaddafi in February 2011, when she worked as a lawyer who defended political prisoners, including Islamists. After the revolt, she and other women in her family — professionals who did not wear the veil — became the focus of a smear campaign by conservative Islamists, who all but forced Ms. Bugaighis out of the rebel leadership. Over the last few years, as she remained devoted to civic activism, Ms. Bugaighis criticized jihadists who had grown in power and influence, especially in eastern Libya.
Vigils held on Thursday gathered friends and colleagues from the many facets of her life. In Benghazi, fellow veteran activists of the Libyan revolt gathered at the home of Mr. Ghariani’s family. “Everyone is shellshocked here,” said Jalal al-Gallal, who served with Ms. Bugaighis in the early rebel leadership council. “Salwa would have been a target for everyone. She spoke her mind. She didn’t spare Islamists, the previous regime or Hifter,” he said, referring to Khalifa Hifter, the army general waging a violent, anti-Islamist campaign in eastern Libya.Vigils held on Thursday gathered friends and colleagues from the many facets of her life. In Benghazi, fellow veteran activists of the Libyan revolt gathered at the home of Mr. Ghariani’s family. “Everyone is shellshocked here,” said Jalal al-Gallal, who served with Ms. Bugaighis in the early rebel leadership council. “Salwa would have been a target for everyone. She spoke her mind. She didn’t spare Islamists, the previous regime or Hifter,” he said, referring to Khalifa Hifter, the army general waging a violent, anti-Islamist campaign in eastern Libya.
In a square in the capital, Tripoli, some remembered Ms. Bugaighis as a passionate spokeswoman for the 2011 revolt, helping the anti-Qaddafi forces win allies, including Libyans abroad who heard her interviews and were moved by the cause. Khaled Mattawa, a professor at the University of Michigan, was one of them, saying he was heartened to see women in positions of leadership. “It was a high point,” he said on Thursday as he gathered purple flowers with his family at the vigil. “It was the face of Benghazi we had not seen in a long time.”In a square in the capital, Tripoli, some remembered Ms. Bugaighis as a passionate spokeswoman for the 2011 revolt, helping the anti-Qaddafi forces win allies, including Libyans abroad who heard her interviews and were moved by the cause. Khaled Mattawa, a professor at the University of Michigan, was one of them, saying he was heartened to see women in positions of leadership. “It was a high point,” he said on Thursday as he gathered purple flowers with his family at the vigil. “It was the face of Benghazi we had not seen in a long time.”
Jamila Fallag, another longtime activist who now serves as Libya’s deputy minister of culture, said the death represented a turning point for the country. “There are no red lines anymore,” she said. “All of us are threatened. We are all future martyrs.”Jamila Fallag, another longtime activist who now serves as Libya’s deputy minister of culture, said the death represented a turning point for the country. “There are no red lines anymore,” she said. “All of us are threatened. We are all future martyrs.”
The loss was perhaps most deeply felt among the women Ms. Bugaighis had mentored or inspired from afar. Najla Elmangoush, a lawyer who worked with Ms. Bugaighis and now lives in Virginia, said that at every stage Ms. Bugaighis “pushed women” — to the forefront of protests, or to fight for their inclusion in the emerging leadership.The loss was perhaps most deeply felt among the women Ms. Bugaighis had mentored or inspired from afar. Najla Elmangoush, a lawyer who worked with Ms. Bugaighis and now lives in Virginia, said that at every stage Ms. Bugaighis “pushed women” — to the forefront of protests, or to fight for their inclusion in the emerging leadership.
She remembered Ms. Bugaighis as a forceful presence at the Benghazi courthouse, the de facto headquarters of Colonel Qaddafi’s opponents. “She had the power to be in that place, 24 hours a day — while men were hiding in their houses,” Ms. Elmangoush said.She remembered Ms. Bugaighis as a forceful presence at the Benghazi courthouse, the de facto headquarters of Colonel Qaddafi’s opponents. “She had the power to be in that place, 24 hours a day — while men were hiding in their houses,” Ms. Elmangoush said.
Yet over the last few months, Benghazi held nothing but menace for Ms. Bugaighis. She had received death threats and spent less and less time in the city, shuttling between Tripoli and Jordan, where she moved her children after an assassination attempt on her son — a shooting that her family was convinced was meant for her.Yet over the last few months, Benghazi held nothing but menace for Ms. Bugaighis. She had received death threats and spent less and less time in the city, shuttling between Tripoli and Jordan, where she moved her children after an assassination attempt on her son — a shooting that her family was convinced was meant for her.
She returned to Benghazi on Tuesday, in order to participate in the vote, Iman Bugaighis said. “She insisted on staying in her place,” she said, instead of at another family home, patrolled by bodyguards. The assassins attacked a gardener before killing Ms. Bugaighis.She returned to Benghazi on Tuesday, in order to participate in the vote, Iman Bugaighis said. “She insisted on staying in her place,” she said, instead of at another family home, patrolled by bodyguards. The assassins attacked a gardener before killing Ms. Bugaighis.
“It was brutal,” her sister said. “She didn’t do anything. She only used her voice.”“It was brutal,” her sister said. “She didn’t do anything. She only used her voice.”