A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Thursday, April 4, 2013

There is NOTHING Suspicious About This Fire, Nothing ...

Ahmad Qadhaf al-Dam is a cousin of the late Libyan leader Mu‘ammar al-Qadhafi and used to be one of his key liaisons to other countries and groups. He has been living in Egypt, where he apparently has both business interests and, some say, was well-connected with the former regime. Libya's revolutionary government wants him back, and has tried to extradite him. But he claims he was actually born at Mersa Matruh in Egypt and is claiming Egyptian citizenship; he's also asked for political asylum. An Egyptian court turned down the extradition request, but he was still facing charges in Egypt of resisting arrest, having a stockpile of unlicensed firearms, and other offenses. Now, however, a fire in the court building has reportedly destroyed the file relating to his case in the prosecution's office.

Now, Cairo watchers may recall that immediately after the revolution, there was a fire in the Evidence Bureau of the Interior Ministry, then one at the Central Auditing Bureau, and oh, yes, another fire at the Interior Ministry,  Conspiracy theorists thought someone must be systematically destroying evidence to prevent prosecution.

But I'm not a conspiracy theorist, so I'll just assume Mr. Qadhaf al-Dam, whatever exactly his links may be to Egyptian intelligence, has fortuitously benefited from this unfortunate fire. There is absolutely nothing to see here. Nothing.

Just to be safe though, he should probably avoid balconies in London.

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