Italy hand Libya investigation notes on Omar Mukhtar Italian authorities have handed over historical documents containing information on the original investigation of Omar Mukhtar, who was executed on the 16th September 1931. A spokesman for the Libyan Ministry of Culture said the agreement was made after a visit to Rome last Friday where the Minister met with officials from the Italian National Archives. They explained that the documents contain questions directed to Mukhtar during his interrogation alongside the answers he gave at the time. The documents also contain the signature of the former King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III. Italian authorities also handed copies of original maps of Libya made by Italy during the occupation in addition to a number of photographs of several cities across Libya. Cultural ties between Italy and Libya were also discussed during the meeting. Omar Mukhtar was born in in eastern Cyrnaica, Al Butnan District, in the village of East Jaghbub east of Tobruk. Adopted at an early age, he was educated in a Mosque and then attended the Senussi university, Jaghbub. ‘The Lion of the Desert’ was a religious teacher, but also held a fountain of knowledge on desert warfare and the geography of his surroundings. Twenty years after he began fighting the Italians, he was captured on 11 September 1931 after being wounded in Slonta. In three days, Mukhtar was tried and convicted. On 14 September 1931, Omar Mukhtar was sentenced to be hanged. Earlier this month, Libya celebrated Martyrs’ Day on 16th September to commemorate the death of Omar Mukhtar and others who have sacrificed their lives for Libya’s freedom. Sunday 29th September marks the 101st anniversary of the Italians declaring war on the Ottoman Empire concerning the occupation of Libya.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 13:51:16 +0000