BENGHAZI – Libyan leader Col Muammar Gadafy called yesterday for a jihad or armed struggle against Switzerland, saying it was an infidel state that was destroying mosques.
“Any Muslim in any part of the world who works with Switzerland is an apostate, is against Muhammad, God and the Koran,” Col Gadafy said during a meeting in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi to mark the Prophet’s birthday.
“The masses of Muslims must go to all airports in the Islamic world and prevent any Swiss plane landing, to all harbours and prevent any Swiss ships docking, inspect all shops and markets to stop any Swiss goods being sold,” the colonel said.
Libya’s relations with Switzerland broke down in 2008 when a son of Col Gadafy was arrested in a Geneva hotel and charged with abusing domestic servants. He was released shortly afterwards and the charges were dropped.
Col Gadafy accused Switzerland of being an “infidel, obscene state which is destroying mosques”. Swiss nationals voted in favour of a ban on minarets in a referendum last year backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party. – (Reuters)