Happy Independence Day!
December 24, 2011 commemorates the 60th year anniversary of Libya becoming an independent country.We would like to wish everyone a very happy and blessed independence day.
Here is a historical background on today’s special occasion:
On December 24, 1951, Libya was officially declared an independent country. Before Libya gained its independence, during World War II, European powers wanted to divide Libya into 3 countries. The UK would “oversee” the eastern province (Barga) of Libya, Italy would be given the western province (Tripolitania) & the south of Libya (Fezzan) would be given to France. As a result, protests broke out all over Libya.
The protests were peaceful & organized, with many Libyans coming to Tripoli to support each other & illustrate to the international world that they would not be divided. As a result, many were kidnapped, put in jail & murdered for protesting & to this day their names are documented in the Libya Jihad Center. When the murders & kidnapping continued, the United Nations sent a committee, during the late 1940’s, to investigate what the Libyan people demands were.
A group of Libyans later set out to New York, in order to support & represent the Libyan peoples’ request to form an independent country. The United Nations decided to vote on Libya’s independence & the results were 49 against & 51 for Libya’s independence. The deciding vote in favor of Libya’s independence was made by Haiti. Now one of the main streets in Tripoli was named after Haiti in honor of their decision.
What is significant about Libya’s independence is that although there were not many educated Libyans, a constitution was developed before gaining its independence & governmental institutions had already been planned to be put in place before it became independent.
At the time, there was no proper education system, no health care system, and no companies to harvest Libya’s natural resources. But Libyans started working on bettering the country, even before they gained their independence, to ensure that their country was unified & set out to ensure that it would be prosperous.
With this we salute all the Libyan people on their independence day, new and old, and hope there are many more joyous celebrations to come!
~ From all of us at Feb17.info
Many thanks to Danya Bashir Hobba for the historical overview.
Wow.. MashAllah!
So proud of you Danya! I learnt alot from this article!
Keep it up! ;)
I wish you a happy Independence day Libyans.
Do you celebrate Christmas on the 24 of Dec. in Libya ?
nice mashaAllah
A good read, indeed.. I salute all the Libyan people on their independence day.
Many happy returns !
A good job!
لا تشكي من الايام فليس لها بديل و لا تبكي علي الدنيا ما دام آخرها الرحيل
I grew up on Haiti street where the “ABT, Or ABC movie” theatre was located. Next to it was The Alitalia building which later became the headquaters of Libyan Airlines Building. Haiti street also extended across 24th December street into Algiers square. On that street there was a school, Haiti urgent care ( Mustausef Sciara Haiti) which was initially staffed by some folks from Yugoslavia and Taiwan when it first opened. Not too distant from there heading North on the same street was “Salem SHOP”where you could buy wedding gifts and just on the floor below the street level in the basement, I used to buy records to listen to.
On the 24th of December, there was a small parade in “EL Sraiya El Hamra” or Martyrs Square. I do remember a procession of Libyan police on horse back. At night or late evening, there would be fire works and the words of Libya would display. This was at ‘EL Ghazala” facing the corniche or ‘Il Lungo Mare”. My parents and us kids would chant” Aashat Libya” or Tahya Libya” with some ululations from traditional women in their “Libyan Farashiya” as the fire works were lit in the dark black sky.. Occassionally there would also be some Italian friends and neighbours wondering about getting ready to celebrate “Christmas Eve” by attending Mass at The Franciscan Cathedral in Algeriers square, and they would also cry” Viva La Libia”.
On our way home, we’d talk my dad to take us to the movies. It was either the “Rex” Which later became “EL Khayam” or the “Odeon”. The entry fee was about fifteen piastres.
In spite of the regime change, We always celebrated quietly Libya’s Independence. It was makes us a recognized nationality. and now , that we have this extraordinary opportunity to celebrate our newly found freedom, I am delighted to share with you my early childhood story. I want to wish you all, a Happy Independence Day. “AAshat Libya”’. And for those who were born and grew up in Libya regardless of their current country status and religious affiliation:Jew and Christians alike; I remember many of you and your families. So here also to you::Happy Hanaaka, Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. God Bless our Libya. AAshat Libya! And, Kul- Aamm -wa intoom- Bi Kheir. Happy Independence to you ,y’all!
كل عام وانتم بخير ونهنئ كافة الشعب الليبي بهذه المناسبة ونتمنى المزيد من الانتصارات والتقدم