August 20, 2017 17 News & Analysis East West Toxic politics in , further complicate migration problem

Stuck in the middle. Italian Prime Minister (L) and Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, last February. (AP)

Justin Salhani that has characterised the Libyan a migrant must pay a fee to pass Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni Time magazine reported: “Liby- crisis since 2011 is absence of mo- through each militia’s territory. said his government would answer ans have reportedly been posting nopoly of the control over the use “Once you have that kind of illicit a request from Libyan Prime Min- images of Omar al-Mukhtar, a na- of force,” said Jalel Harchaoui, a economy somewhere, it is very dif- ister Fayez al-Sarraj. tional hero who battled Italian rule doctoral candidate in geopolitics at ficult to get rid of it,” he said. Italy’s parliament approved in the early 1900s, on social media ver the past several Paris 8 Université whose research About 95,000 immigrants have a plan involving six Italian na- in response to the Italian presence years, thousands of focuses on Libya. “Said simply, you landed on Italian shores so far this val vessels coordinating with — reflecting the widespread un- people have boarded have thousands of armed groups year, most having set sail from Libyan forces to counter human ease over a former colonial power boats in Libyan waters across the country following their Libya. The new arrivals have be- trafficking. The plan was scaled intervening on domestic affairs.” intent on crossing the own agendas.” come a major campaign issue for back, however, after popular pro- Other competing factions cast a OMediterranean and landing on Ital- The decentralisation of force and politicians in Italy facing elections tests from Libyans who recall shadow over the agreement. Lib- ian shores. The number of people power has led to “protection econ- in 2018. To dissuade more peo- the Italian’s colonial history in yan Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, illegally headed towards Europe omies,” Harchaoui said, in which ple from crossing the sea, Italian their country. whose Libyan National Army con- has been a financial boon for hu- trols eastern Libya, purportedly man smugglers in Africa. ordered his forces to attack Ital- This has caused concern in Italy ian ships entering Libyan waters. where the parliament voted to Italian officials reportedly said the deploy naval patrol ships to deter Italy’s Lega Nord seeks to shut Muslim centre threats were unfounded and unre- immigrant-laden boats from mak- liable. ing the perilous journey. he leader of the far-right, nity in building mosques, the Lega including one carrying a bullhorn Just days after he supposedly While Italy and Libya seem to anti-immigration party Nord, which runs the Lombardy with a sticker that read, “STOP IN- sent Italy a request for aid, “Sarraj have come to some sort of agree- Lega Nord addressed a governorship, fought such moves VASION.” denied that he had requested Ital- ment, the fractured state of Libya small group of supporters at every step. There were no apparent counter ian ships enter Libyan waters, say- and its government’s attempts to outside a Muslim cultural Salvini vowed to have the Milan protests in the Pasteur neighbour- ing that Libyan sovereignty was a gain international assistance are Tcentre in Milan on August 3. Matteo Muslim Centre closed “right away.” hood, where the cultural centre is red line that could not be crossed,” complicating the issue. Salvini snapped selfies in front of “We will promptly write to the located. reported Stratfor, a US-based intel- “Libyan politics is toxic,” Jona- the centre that caters primarily to mayor, the questor and the prefect The Lega Nord has called protests ligence consultancy. “But later that than M. Winer, former US special Bangladeshi Muslims as he and col- to put an end to an abusive reality against mosque closures “provoca- same day, Sarraj and the Italian In- envoy for Libya and a fellow with leagues discussed efforts to shut it that is a danger for those who are tions” and Salvini has said that terior Minister Marco Minniti dis- the Middle East Institute in Wash- down. inside and outside,” Salvini said. He Islam is incompatible with Euro- cussed possible Italian assistance ington, said. “When [international The centre is one of many in Mi- claimed the location of a children’s pean societies. The centre was pur- and managed to overcome domes- actors] try to help they get drawn lan that serve as makeshift places day-care facility next to a boiler chased in 2014 and Friday prayers tic resistance in Libya.” in. Libyan factions are manoeu- of prayer. Muslims in northern Italy room in a basement was a safety regularly take place there, despite Sarraj is stuck in the middle, try- vring against one another and will struggle to find places to worship and security issue. it being unrecognised as an official ing to please international actors reject what they agree on [with due to Milan’s stringent laws that “There can be no such thing in house of worship. who will provide Libya — and his foreign partners] even though they do not recognise Islam as an official the heart of Milan. It must be closed An official from the centre told government — with much-needed need their help.” religion. Even though Islam is Ita- by August,” he said. “It doesn’t Milano Today: “These problems aid and legitimacy while trying to Ever since the “Arab spring” up- ly’s second largest religion, with 1.6 matter to me if it is a mosque or an were created by the Lega Nord and win over a divided populace. Re- rising led to NATO bombings in million adherents, other religions Islamic school, it is illegal, abusive, they are preventing the construc- ceiving foreign aid should go a long Libya and the overthrow of long- with fewer followers have secured and Italian urban law punishes it tion of an official worship site for way towards providing services time autocrat Muammar Qaddafi, government recognition. with closure.” Muslims. Where should we go to and gaining loyalty in Libya. the country has been embroiled in While city officials from the left- Salvini was followed by mostly pray?” political fracture and civil war. leaning tried pre- older, white supporters. There Justin Salhani is an Arab Weekly “The most fundamental problem viously to aid the Muslim commu- were a few young people as well, (Justin Salhani) contributor in Milan, Italy.