- Title: LIBYA-TOLERANCE/POETRY Libyan poets use verse to call for peace
- Date: 20th July 2015
- Summary: MISRATA, LIBYA (JULY 19, 2015) (REUTERS) AUDIENCE GETTING SEATED IN THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT VARIOUS OF BANNER (Arabic) THAT READS: "Poetry evening titled: Tolerance. Organised by Libyan Society for the amputees. Greetings to everyone on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr." AUDIENCE LISTENING PEOPLE WALKING IN VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) POET, ALI AL-HAWN
- Embargoed: 4th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA13QJFPLNOP26IRM3YRDJH9Z72
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: As conflict rages in Libya, a group of Libyan war victims and poets have come together for a poetry reading night to call for tolerance and reconciliation in a nation torn apart by violence and political instability.
With an audience of amputees and wounded, all victims of the war that has ensued since the overthrow of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi, local poets took turns reciting their works, all aimed at setting aside religious, political, and ethnic differences in the name of unity and peace.
Ali al-Hawni, a Libyan poet, recited some of his new poems describing the new reality of displacement of Libyans and refugee-life in Tunisia.
"We've had enough, we're tired of the killing and displacement. The world has seen our shame," Al-Hawni said.
"How is this is the fault of our poor families that are exhausted from displacement in Tunisia…Libyans are looking for a bed to sleep in," he added referring to the tens of thousands of Libyans that have been displaced from their homes.
The event was attended by the Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based government, Khalifa al-Ghwell.
The organisers said the idea of the event was to bring people together.
"The idea of wishing each other a happy Eid, and the idea of a poetry night under the banner of tolerance is to unite Libyans together. In the recent past, the truth is, we have become dispersed and divided between the East and the West and the South (of the country)," said Mohammed Sati, heading Heroes of Libya organisation that organised the event.
Sati lost his right arm in a mortar shell explosion in 2011 in Misrata.
Many participants of the event called for unity among Libyans.
Rabi Khalil, who attended the event, lost his leg during the uprising.
"In Libya we will either live together or die together. Tolerance and reconciliation is necessary and there must be love between us and between all Libyans," Khalil said.
"We hope that Libya takes a step forward, and we hope justice and brotherly love prevails amongst all Libyans. Libya is our country and we wish upon it a prosperous future," said another event attendee Mohammed Zaabiyya.
Libya is in chaos, with two governments and parliaments with their own armed forces fighting for control four years after the ouster of Gaddafi.
The official government has been based in the east since losing control of the capital Tripoli a year ago when a rival group called Libya Dawn seized it, setting up its own parliament and government.
Street clashes, airstrikes, and gun battles have raged throughout the country as each government tries to take control.
Falling oil revenues and intensified fighting across Libya have also worsened the humanitarian situation in the country, with fears that basic public services may collapse, aid agencies have warned.
The conflict between Islamist militias and forces allied with the internationally recognized government has uprooted more than 450,000 people within the country, and at least 100,000 have fled to neighbouring countries, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and the United Nations. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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