Salafist encroachment, ‘alien’ fatwas viewed with concern in eastern Libya
LNA’s complacency with movement risks contributing to the spread of extremism and the change of the religious identity of Libyan society.
Eastern Libya is being increasingly infiltrated by the Salafist movement, and the matter has become of great concern to the local population that views the members of this movement and its fatwas as alien to the cultural and religious environment as Libyan society is known for its moderation and its traditional ties to Sufism. In recent years, however, hardline fatwas have made their way into society.