Mustafa Abdul Jalil or Abdul-Jalil[1] (Arabic: مصطفى عبد الجليل‎, also transcribed Abdul-Jelil, Abd-al-Jalil,[2] Abdel-Jalil, Abdeljalil or Abdu Al Jeleil) (born 1952)[3] is the Chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya, and as such serves as head of state in Libya's caretaker government which was formed as a result of the 2011 Libyan civil war. He is also a spokesman for the city of Bayda.[4][5]

From 2007 to 2011, Abdul Jalil was Minister of Justice (officially, the Secretary of the General People's Committee of Justice) under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.[2] He has been noted in some news media for his stance against various human rights violations in Libya, although others express a different view and accuse him, for example, of intransigence during the appeal by the Bulgarian nurses (that sentence was later converted to life imprisonment and the nurses were eventually released). During the civil war, Abdul Jalil was identified as the Chairman of the National Transitional Council based in Benghazi, although this position was contested by others in the uprising[who?] due to his past direct participation in Gaddafi's government as Minister of Justice for four years until 2011.[citation needed]
Contents
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1 Career
2 Stances noted in the media
2.1 Pre-2011 protests
2.2 2011 protests and civil war
3 Efforts to form an interim government during the 2011 unrest in Libya
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Career

After graduating from the department of Shari'a and Law in the Arabic Language and Islamic Studies faculty of University of Libya in 1975, Abdul Jalil was initially "assistant to the Secretary of the Public Prosecutor" in Bayda, before being appointed a judge in 1978.[6]

Abdul Jalil was a judge "known for ruling consistently against the regime,"[7] before becoming justice minister in 2007. In January 2010 he attempted to resign on national television over the government's failure to release political prisoners.[citation needed] His resignation was rejected.[citation needed] He resigned on 21 February 2011 after being sent to Benghazi to negotiate the release of hostages taken by rebels,[8][9] being the first senior official to do so.[7]

In classified US diplomatic cables leaked recently by the website Wikileaks, he is described as open and cooperative.[citation needed] Following his resignation from Gadhaffi's government in protest at its actions during the Libyan civil war, the Gaddafi regime had placed a bounty of 500,000 dinars, roughly US$ 400,000, for his capture.[10]
[edit] Stances noted in the media
[edit] Pre-2011 protests

In August 2010, a representative of Human Rights Watch praised the fact that Abdul Jalil had "has reportedly taken a strong stance against arbitrary arrests and prolonged detention without trial", commenting that:[11]

The Minister of Justice has taken a very good stance on this group of prisoners. He’s publicly criticized the security agencies for continuing to detain prisoners, despite the fact that they have been acquitted by the courts. And, the problem really is that the Internal Security Agency and the Ministry of Interior have been ignoring court orders.

In a paper published in November 2010, Amnesty International stated similarly, that:[12]

At least 200 others remain detained after serving their sentences or being acquitted by courts. Justice Minister Mostafa Abdeljalil has publicly called for the release of these prisoners, but the Internal Security Agency, which holds them, refuses to comply... Justice Minister Abdeljalil has said that he is unable to order an investigation into abuses by Internal Security Agency Officers because they have immunity. Only the Interior Ministry can waive immunity, but it has consistently refused to do so, he said.

Human Rights Watch made the same observations in its submission to the 2010 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council.[13]

L'Express noted that before being named a minister of justice of Libya in 2007, he was the president of the Libyan Court of Appeal. The paper opined that Abdul Jalil was responsible for the "intransigence" of the court in confirming the death sentences in the "Bulgarian nurses" HIV trial under Gaddafi.[14]
[edit] 2011 protests and civil war

During the 2011 Libyan civil war he was dispatched by Gaddafi to Benghazi to allegedly "negotiate the release of hostages taken by Islamists".[7][8]

On 21 February, the privately-owned Quryna newspaper reported that he had resigned over "the excessive use of violence against anti-government protesters".[9]

On 22 February, he claimed in an interview with Swedish newspaper Expressen that he had proof Gaddafi had personally ordered the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.[15]

On 24 February, the BBC reported that, at a meeting of opposition politicians, former military officers and tribal leaders the eastern city of Bayda, Abdul Jalil said there would be no talks with the Libyan leader and called for him to step down immediately.[16]

On 5 March, Reuters reported that Abdul Jalil claimed to have "official contacts with European and Arab (countries)" and that "some countries will announce their recognition" of the National Transitional Council "soon".[17]

On 9 March, Abdul Jalil called for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya.[1]

As the Battle of Tripoli tilted in favor of forces answering to the NTC, Abdul Jalil said on 24 August that democratic elections would be held in eight months. He also said that Gaddafi and his sons, once captured, would be tried in Libya prior to being sent to The Hague for trial at the International Criminal Court.[18]
[edit] Efforts to form an interim government during the 2011 unrest in Libya

On 24 February, opposition politicians, former military officers, tribal leaders, academics and businessmen held a meeting in the eastern city of Bayda.[16] The meeting was chaired by Abdul Jalil, who quit the government a few days before. The delegates stressed the importance of the national unity of Libya and stated that Tripoli is the capital city. They discussed proposals for interim administration with many delegates asking for UN intervention in Libya.[19] The podium at the meeting displayed the pre-Gaddafi era flag of the Kingdom of Libya (1951–1969).[20][21]

On 25 February, Al Jazeera reported that talks are taking place between "personalities from eastern and western Libya" to form an interim government for the post-Gaddafi era.[20] On 26 February, it was reported that Abdul Jalil was leading the process of forming an interim government, to be based in Benghazi.[22][23] Abdul Jalil stated that "Gaddafi alone bore responsibility for the crimes that have occurred" in Libya, he also insisted on the unity of Libya and that Tripoli is the capital.[24] The efforts to form an alternative government have been supported by the Libyan ambassador in the United States, Ali Suleiman Aujali.[25][26] The Libyan deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Omar Al Dabashi, has stated that he supported a new alternative government "in principle".[27]

The members of the new interim government were to be announced on 27 February at a press conference in the city of Benghazi. Some of the portfolios were to be left vacant for representatives for areas that are still controlled by the Gaddafi-led government.[28] The proposed interim government aims to remain in power for three months after which elections will be held.[29] The new interim government is to include both civilians and persons from the military.[30][31]

An Al Jazeera English journalist in Benghazi has reported that that a fully fledged interim government will not be formed until Tripoli is under opposition control.[citation needed] This is in contrast to claims made by Abdul Jalil on the previous day about the formation of a provisional government. These comments have now been clarified as his "personal views".

Abdul Jalil was stated to be the head of the National Transitional Council in the Council's founding statement of 5 March 2011.

Mustafa Abdul Jalil, president of LIBYA /biography