The Death of Muammar Gaddafi

On October 20, 2011, the NTC announced that Libyan forces had captured Muammar Gaddafi near his hometown of Sirte. Gaddafi was initially reported to be capture and alive, but was beaten and killed by Libyan forces. Gaddafi was brutally sodomized by the Libyan forces, and was reportedly stabbed, beaten, and shot multiple times. Gaddafi’s body was then put on public display for four days. The body was later buried at an unknown location to avoid the site becoming a site of reverence for pro-Gaddafi supporters.

The death of Gaddafi marks a change in the events of Libya. Although Libyans and the NTC are glad that Gaddafi is gone, the manner of his death is shocking. Although it is difficult to suggest that Gaddafi be publicly tried, the humiliation and desecration of Gaddafi’s body is certainly a bad start for the NTC.