An abandoned and ancient synagogue in Libya is being turned into an Islamic religious centre without permission, the World organisation of the Jews of Libya said. David Gerbi, a Libya-born Italian Jew and member of the organisation, which promotes the interests of people belonging to the Libyan Jewish Diaspora, wrote about the Sla Dar Bishi in Tripoli last week in a report published by Moked, a Jewish publication in Italy. “Since there is now no Jew living in Tripoli and since the power is in the hands of the local authorities (read: Militias) it was decided to violate our property and our history,” he wrote. The revolution sparked intermittent fighting between clans and militias with competing claims to leadership. Libya once had about 40,000 Jews, who left following the establishment of the State of Israel.

Source: Libya Today April 18, 2021 09:00 UTC