Dr. Sheikh Hassan Othman Igtet

Osama Al Jared pays tribute to 'heroes who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our country' and recognises the efforts of my father, Dr Sheikh Hassan Othman Igtet, in the history of Libya's revolution.

Osama Aljared

The 17^th February Revolution was full of selfless actions and telling lessons. It revealed good deeds that will always be remembered, and identified martyrs who will never be forgotten. What made me write these lines are the overwhelmingly sad memories of the revolution. In the midst of remembering the beginning of the revolution in Shahat, we recall those heroes who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our country and remember that they are no longer with us today, although they are eternally in the memories of everyone in the city. Some people were absent at the anniversary, but despite their absence, remain in our thoughts to remind us that liberation without them is incomplete. When we remember these heroes, we cry in sorrow and grief for their departure, but we dance in celebration because we owe our own freedom to them. We remember them and are shamed that we do not honour their sacrifice.

I will try to briefly outline the start of the February Revolution in the city of Shahat without covering too many issues, and also without portraying the city as legend [adding some mythical nature to it]. It was a historical and decisive day in the city’s life, and history will remember this city for its sacrifice. It is not easy to talk about everything that happened in the city during the February Revolution. I think it would require more than one book, and perhaps video recordings are more credible than written articles anyway. On that day, I realised that what was happening would root out the regime that controlled every single facet of the country for more than four decades. I also realised, when people began gathering on the roundabout of Shahat (the heart of the city) that the Libyan people said a farewell to the era of an arrogant Bedouin soldier who hated democracy and dialogue. Perhaps, it is an appropriate occasion for those willing to talk about the 17^th February Revolution, to also talk about the victims from the city who were tortured and imprisoned during the reign of Colonel (Gaddafi) over the years preceding 17^th February. We must talk about them in order to honour their sacrifice, because their intention for struggle had only one goal  ... freedom.

Memories take us back four decades ago to the days of the first great revolution - these were days of great difficulty and trials for patience, as well as periods of resistance and struggle against the regime, and the sons of Shahat, did a splendid job. People of Shahat sacrificed their lives even before the 17^th February Revolution and as part oft he doomed September Revolution, a group of military officers planned a coup against Colonel (Gaddafi) led by: Abdul Wanis Mahmoud al-Hasi, Abdul Karim Belhaj al-Hasi, Ahmad Sanusi al-Hasi, Adam Hamad al-Hasi and Musa Ahmed al-Hasi. However, it ended in tragedy and they were imprisoned for eighteen years on 24/12/1969. They were joined by a genius of his time in science, Islamic law and scientific inventions, Dr. Sheikh Hassan Othman Igtet, son of Shahat and stepson of Mujahid Igtet Musa, after he was implicated in what is known as the case of Ahmed Misbah al-Warfali in 1968, and the regime exerted pressure on his cousins ​​to disown him. He died in exile in Pakistan in 1996.