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In an interesting turn of events, a new law appears to clash with its original intent. Following the overthrow and demise of Muammar Gaddafi, Libyan officials passed a law banning the glorification of the ousted leader or any of his supporters.
Libya’s Supreme Court has agreed to review the constitutionality of the law following the urging of a group of lawyers claiming that: ”This law is a violation of the basic freedoms of human rights and will help to damage freedoms in Libya,” and that, “The law itself helps to glorify Gaddafi more than keep it in check. We ask the court to accept our appeal.”
The law was initially passed on May 2, 2012, and even then raised public outrage among several groups who argued that the law violated the spirit of freedom of expression.
The law provides prison sentences for the glorification of Gaddafi as well as the publishing of any news “harming the February 17 revolution,” the date on which rebel forces began the steady overthrow of Gaddafi’s regime.
It is quite a conundrum: is it worse to prevent people from glorifying (however that term is defined) a leader that many view as despotic, violent, inhumane, add your own negative adjective, etc. or it is worse to prevent the freedom of expression, whatever the viewpoint, that some may equate with the embodiment of such a despotic and dictatorial leader.
