Abdul Hafiz Ghoga

Abdul Hafiz Ghoga (also known as Abdelhafed Abdelkader Ghoga, also spelled Ghogha; Arabic: عبد الحافظ غوقة; born 11 June 1957) is a Libyan human rights lawyer who rose to prominence as the spokesman for the National Transitional Council, a body formed in Benghazi during the 2011 Libyan civil war.[1] On 23 March 2011, he became the vice chairman of the council, serving in that post until he resigned on 22 January 2012 after protests against him.[2]

Abdul Hafiz Ghoga
عبد الحافظ غوقة
Vice Chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya
In office
23 March 2011 – 22 January 2012
PresidentMustafa Abdul Jalil
Prime MinisterMahmoud Jibril
Ali Tarhouni (Acting)
Abdurrahim El-Keib
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byMustafa Honi
Personal details
Born (1957-06-11) 11 June 1957
Al-Azizya, Libya
Political partyAnti-Gaddafi forces

Abu Salim prison massacre

Abdul Hafiz Ghoga was actively involved in legal representation for the families of people killed in the 1996 Abu Salim prison massacre.[3]

2011 Libyan civil war

Ghoga was a member of the National Transitional Council created during the 2011 Libyan civil war[1] and acted as its spokesperson. Ghoga has argued that the council is working for a unified Libya, rather than letting rebel-controlled areas separate from areas controlled by Muammar Gaddafi; "There is no such thing as a divided Libya".[4]

On 27 February, he said that the council was not seeking foreign intervention.[5] On 20 March, he announced that over 8000 people opposed to Gaddafi had been killed. However, Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, which compiles a database of all reported fatalities due to political violence on the African continent, listed 6,109 fatalities from 15 February to 23 October 2011, of which 1,319 prior to NATO intervention.[6] Ghoga criticised a comment by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa that was critical of the way in which the Libyan no-fly zone was implemented.[7] Ghoga stated, "Today, when the secretary general spoke, I was surprised. What is the mechanism that stops the extermination of the people in Libya, what is the mechanism, Mr. Secretary General? If the protection of civilians is not a humanitarian obligation, what is the mechanism that you propose to us?"[7]

Resignation

In January 2012, he resigned as Vice Chairman of the Transitional National Council.[8]

References
  1. "Founding statement of the Interim Transitional National Council". National Transitional Council. 5 March 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  2. Connor, Richard (22 January 2012). "Libyan deputy leader steps down after angry protests". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  3. "Libya: Governments Should Demand End to Unlawful Killings". Human Rights Watch. February 2011. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  4. Abbas, Mohammed (27 February 2011). "UPDATE 1-Libya rebels form council, reject Gaddafi talks". Reuters. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  5. "Libya opposition launches council". Al Jazeera English. 27 February 2011. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  6. "ACLED Version 5 (1997–2014)". Armed Conflict Location and Event Dataset. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  7. Perry, Tom (20 March 2011). "More than 8,000 Libyans killed in revolt – rebel". Reuters. Archived from the original on 23 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  8. "NTC deputy chief Abdel Hafiz Ghoga resigns". BBC. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.


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