Zintan

Sha'biyah

Az- Zintan (Arabic الزنتان, DMG az- Zintan, literally, also Sintan ) is a city in western Libya and was up to the start of the civil war in 2011, with around 40,000 inhabitants, the largest city in the Jabal Nafusa. It lies in the northwest of the country some 160 kilometers southwest of Tripoli in Al Jabal al Munizip - Gharbi.

History

In the course of the civil war in Libya in 2011, it came in March 2011 in the context of an offensive Gaddafi loyal forces in az- Zintan heavy fighting. The city has since held by the insurgents. In May 2011, found several attacks by Gaddafi forces with multiple rocket launchers of the type " degree " instead, which led to a flight of most of the civilian population. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 30,000 residents had left the city in the direction of Tunisia since the beginning of hostilities. A team of doctors of the organization Doctors Without Borders, who worked in the city since March, was the end of May evacuated because of continued bombardment.

Since his arrest on 20 October 2011, Gaddafi's son Saif al -Islam was in the hands of the local revolutionary brigade. In the spring of 2013 also began his trial in Zintan.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Usama al - Dschuwaili ( born 1961 ), Libyan politician since November 22, 2012 Defense Secretary
• Abdullah Naker, Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Tripoli