Militants take over in Derna

Militants in Derna moved to further consolidate their control over the town this week. It was reported that the recently formed group, the Majlis Shura Shabab Al-Islam fi Derna (the Shura Council of the Youth of Islam in Derna) (See Libya Politics and Security – 07.04.14) had taken over the local council and turned it into a religious court. According to the Bawabat Al-Wasat news site the group’s members have brought religious judges over from Egypt to preside in the court.

Meanwhile this week militants, who are believed to be from the same organisation, erected a wall across the campus of Derna University to separate male and female students. It is becoming increasingly clear that Derna has slipped completely outside of state control and it is now entirely in the hands of militant Islamist elements who are currently able to run roughshod over the local population. 

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