Libya – Member of the House of Representatives Jaballah Al-Shaibani has issued an open letter to Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbeibah, condemning what he called the government’s policy of “injustice and exclusion” against the town of Tawergha and its residents.
Accusations of Obstructing Reconstruction and Ignoring Compensation Rights
In a post on his Facebook page, Al-Shaibani said the prime minister had “ruled unjustly, excluded and deprived,” losing sight of his responsibility for national reconciliation.
He added that only a limited number of Tawergha’s displaced families had managed to return because the government halted the reconstruction project despite all necessary procedures being completed and contracts signed with implementing companies.
Al-Shaibani also charged the government with ignoring demands by the Central Compensation Committee to pay reparations to Tawergha residents, even though the committee relied on damage assessments prepared by specialized engineering offices.
Allegations of Land Seizure and Court Order Violations
The MP described the government’s decision to seize land owned by the Tawergha tribes as “provocative,” noting that ownership of the plots has been acknowledged for more than 200 years. He accused Dbeibah of “circumventing a judicial ruling in favor of the Tawergha tribes by changing the terminology in government decrees.”
Al-Shaibani said the case remains before the courts and criticized the merger of Tawergha Municipality into Misrata Municipality after Misrata’s municipal elections, calling the move a blatant breach of Tawergha residents’ constitutional and democratic rights.
Pressure on Municipal Employees and Continued Disregard for the Judiciary
He further stated that the government ignored a court verdict revoking the municipal merger and claimed the prime minister pressured Tawergha municipal employees—threatening them to accept a “content-empty” branch subordinate to Misrata Municipality.
Al-Shaibani concluded by stressing that court rulings continue to be disregarded despite notification of the Attorney General, expressing hope for a “moral awakening” on the Tawergha issue and other matters affecting the nation.
