Who are Libya's rebels?
[The undertones of the Libyan revolt are tinged with religious fundamentalism, rather than liberal democracy].
The NCLO web site (Arabic) carries a document (Arabic; Google Cache; legible in automatic translation) dated February 15th (the day the protests began), which clearly spells out NCLO's objections to Qaddafi's rule. The main points of "Qaddafi: Islam's no. 1 enemy" are as follows:
•Qaddafi has closed an Islamic university and a seminary, has forbidden some Islamist publications, and has thrown thousands of Islamist activists into jail.
•Qaddafi has urged to put the Qur'an on the shelf, as no longer appropriate for this age.
•Qaddafi has made fun of the Islamic veil, calling it a "rag" and a "tent".
•Qaddafi has dared to say that Christians and Jews should be allowed to visit Mecca.
•Qaddafi has rejected the Hadith and Sunnah, and said he follows the Qur'an alone.