The Metropolis

Fail Saif: a look inside Qaddafi's son's North London pile

Chuck Ansbacher | Tuesday 15 March, 2011 13:43

While the conditions in Libya continue to deteriorate, a veil of doubt has begun to shroud the once seemingly imminent liberation of North Africa. After Tunisia and Egypt went, it was a foregone conclusion that the tyrants would continue to topple like so many dominoes. But as the Qaddafis reassert themselves, the imminence of the toppling has become uncertain at best.

As the promise of democratic Libya begins to slip away, one thing has become glaringly clear — any shred of credibility the Qaddafi family may have once had in the global community is gone for good. There will be no more Beyonce parties; there will be no more camping out in Donald Trump’s back yard. And, most importantly, there will be no more weekend in Hampstead Garden Suburb.

For the past week, protesters have been occupying Saif Qadaffi’s home there — a symbolic if not important victory in the discrediting of that family the world over. Yesterday, Laurie Penny of New Statesman went inside to meet the men occupying the home.

We drink stewed tea from Saif’s best china and eat cheese sandwiches using his silver cutlery, while the young man, Abdulla, tells me about how his uncle was “disappeared” by Saif’s father. “In Libya, people disappear all the time. There was a prison massacre where 1,200 people died. They poured cement over the bodies.” Abdulla nervously adjusts his glasses. “It’s important that people know we’re not creating a civil war for no reason.

Do yourself a favour and read the whole thing.

---