The man who risked his life to give fellow Libyans “the gift of freedom” has died in the Libyan conflict. Sheikh Nassar Zuway was killed at the hands of Gaddafi loyalist forces in the coastal city of Sirte while helping people in a suburb named Hay al Dollar. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday confirmed Sheikh Zuway had been killed. Footage of his body purportedly being prepared for burial is online. Sheikh Zuway, the father of three has been buried in Benghazi. In an interview with ABC Radio in March, Sheikh Zuway said he had travelled to Benghazi when the uprising began to protect his wife and children who were there on holiday. Upon arrival, he decided to stay and said he would not return to Australia until Gaddafi was defeated. “I'm prepared to die for the sake of freedom and justice and to see our country taking their place in the world and Gaddafi to leave Libya,” Sheikh Zuway said at the time. Keysar Trad, Islamic Friendship Association spokesman said “He was shocked, we were all shocked, after they started firing on demonstrators,” “His cousins see him as a national hero of the liberation who risked everything to free his fellow human beings from tyranny and oppression; they see him as a Christ-like figure in terms of making the sacrifice.” In 1999 Sheik Zuway was released from detention after seeking asylum in Australia as a political refugee from Libya. From 2002 he was president of the Australian Union of African and Arab Associations and imam at the Cabramatta mosque for several years. At 7.20pm (AEDT) today the condolence ceremony and sunset service for Sheikh Zuway will be held at Lakemba in western Sydney. Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohammad is among the expected hundreds of mourners. BM
