Egyptian Member of Parliament and renowned media personality Mostafa Bakry stated that the assassination of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi earlier in February cannot be perceived as isolated from the intricate political and security climate that has swept Libya.

Journalist Mohamed Fathy hosts MP Mostafa Bakry for a high-stakes discussion on Ard Al-Kinana

During an interview on the program “Ard Al-Kinana”, a digital production featured across Al-Arabiya platforms and hosted by journalist Mohamed Fathim, Bakry asserted that the incident has brought with it major ramifications.

He indicated that foreign entities, fueled by international and regional strife for political dominance in Libya, likely plotted the assassination.

An “orchestrated operation” 

Bakry’s initial assessment suggests that the operation was plotted and carried out by domestic participants.

He stressed that this pattern is not unprecedented in Libya’s political sphere, where a collision of interests between international bodies and regional armed groups has brought forth a tangled web which thwarts any hope of liability.

Questions surrounding transparency and investigation

Commenting on the legal case still underway, Bakry posed some queries with respect to the reason for the late release of the names of the suspected individuals.

He commented that it was unclear if withholding the names was done out of consideration for security or political reasons.

A call for full disclosure

He pointed out that careful investigations into the allegations are still in progress. The evidence indicates that the assassination took place through detailed planning and analytical accuracy by a highly coordinated cell.

He stated that waiting for the court’s final verdict, rather than jumping to conclusions, is the best way to find out the whole truth – and that full transparency is the public’s right.

Respect vs. political affiliation

Beyond his view of regional security threats, the interview also touched upon Bakry’s controversial stance in the Egyptian political realm, especially his relationship with the late President Hosni Mubarak’s regime.

Bakry hailed the late President Mubarak, calling him a “national symbol” who played a crucial role in Egypt’s history.

He drew a sharp distinction between the person and the policy.

Bakry also denied accusations that he was “close to the regime” in his public life. He emphasized that despite the serving as a MP during Mubarak’s era, he had never been affiliated to the ruling National Democratic Party and kept his career strictly independent of political ties.

Turning the page

Bakry wrapped up his remarks by affirming his intent to surpass past resentments and concentrate on national hurdles.

Nevertheless, he assured that legal proceedings are underway at the Kasr Al-Nil Prosecution in Cairo to handle what he deemed as libel and defamation.