NTC stooges backs off ban on religious , ethnic and tribal parties. NTC passes new laws against Gaddafi loyalists

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/05/2012522304234970.html

Libya drops ban on religion-based parties

National Transitional Council amends law that banned parties based on religion, tribe or ethnicity in run-up to polls. Last Modified: 02 May 2012 23:37 inShare4 Email Print Share Feedback

Abdel Jalil's NTC last week said it had passed a law banning parties based on religious, tribal or ethnic lines [AFP]

Libya has dropped a ban against political parties based on religion, tribe or ethnicity, an official said, after the law angered Islamist parties in the run-up to the first free election in June. The ruling National Transitional Council's judicial committee read out on Wednesday a set of new laws, including an amended version of one governing formation of parties, making no mention of the ban, which was announced last week. "This point has been dropped and so any party or political organisation will follow the law as it is now," Salwa Al-Dgheily, a member of the NTC judicial council, told Reuters news agency after an NTC meeting. Libyans vote in June to elect a national assembly for the first time since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. Eighty of the 200 seats will go to political parties, with the rest reserved for independent candidates. Strong performance Last week the NTC said it had passed a law banning parties based on religious, tribal or ethnic lines. A new Islamist party viewed as a leading contender intimated that it would challenge the decision. Islamists have performed strongly in post-uprising elections in Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco and they are also likely to do well in Libya, a socially conservative country. Political analysts say the Muslim Brotherhood is likely to emerge as Libya's most organised political force and an influential player in the oil-exporting state where Islamists, like all dissidents, were harshly suppressed during the 42 years of Gaddafi's dictatorial rule. Separately, officials said Libya had banned the "glorification" of the Gaddafi regime. "Glorification of Muammar Gaddafi, his regime, ideas and his children ... is punishable by a prison sentence," according to the text of a new law read out to reporters by an official. The new law threatens imprisonment of anyone who "offended the 17th February revolution, anyone who insults the Islamic religion or the state and its institutions", the official quoted the law as saying, referring to the start of Libya's uprising last year. Libya's NTC has already indicated the country will be run in accordance with Islamic law, though its exact place in the legal system will be settled only when a new constitution is written after the elections. and... Libya’s ruling council issues new laws against loyalists of deposed leader Gadhafi By Associated Press, Published: May 2 TRIPOLI, Libya — Libya’s rulers have passed new laws aimed at punishing the loyalists of the country’s deposed ruler, Moammar Gadhafi. One law imposes a life sentence on anyone convicted of talking part in Gadhafi’s propaganda machine. Another allows for confiscation of property and possessions of 200 of Gadhafi’s supporters, relatives, Cabinet ministers and military commanders. Anger still boils against Gadhafi’s four-decade dictatorship, seen responsible for current problems like squabbling tribes and lack of government institutions. Libya’s interim government, the National Transitional Council, enacted the laws Wednesday, ahead of elections set for June. Libyans will vote for an assembly to form a permanent government and write a constitution.