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By Alshames News
Article recovered July 2025
However, to provide a more and better context, we included an earlier translation,
below the translation!
Interviewed at his home by: Abdelrahman Salama
Hajj Muhammad, the son of the Sheikh of Martyrs Omar Al‑Mukhtar, whom I met previously in Darnah and later in Benghazi. Most recently, I was honored to invite him on behalf of Omar Al‑Mukhtar University, alongside its dean, to attend this year's graduation ceremony. When the editor in chief of Al‑Majal Wal‑Mukhtar, writer Salem Al‑Hindawi, told me I would carry the invitation, I was overwhelmed with joy—both for being able to visit the home of Omar Al‑Mukhtar’s son, and for being greeted with generosity beneath the quiet dignity that pervades his household.
He began recounting the historic Italian apology—which was formally ratified by both the Senate and Parliament—as a noble initiative by our Leader. The apology was a meaningful act of recognition and remorse. “Our visit,” he said, “was a victory for our ancestors and fathers, and for Omar Al‑Mukhtar himself. Even the Leader pinned a picture of Omar Al‑Mukhtar—taken when Italy captured him—onto his chest during the visit. It was an immense honor for us and for the Arab and Muslim world.”
He emphasized their gentle arrival—walking slowly off the plane’s steps—and being personally welcomed by the Italian Prime Minister. On the next day, they visited the Senate, where our Leader delivered a speech in front of Libyan resistance fighters and descendants. The admiration for the hero Omar Al‑Mukhtar was visible in everyone’s eyes. They posed for pictures and toured the Senate hall.
When asked whether this was Finland’s first visit to Italy, he replied: “No—this was our third.”
On their final day, he wished to meet Graziani’s elderly son so he could question him about his father’s actions—namely ordering the execution (by hanging) of his own father without cause, constructing prisons, razor-wire borders, and inflicting destruction on Libya. He wanted to remind him that their victories differ from others because they are continually renewed, culminating in the forced recognition of Italy’s wrongdoing and reparations to the Libyan people.
During the visit, they erected a magnificent Libyan “honor tent” on Italian soil. It drew admiration from Italians, who came to see it. The Leader held several meetings there with Libyans in Italy. The tent symbolized pride and invoked memories of Omar Al‑Mukhtar’s original tent in 1929—where negotiations took place near Sidi Arhouma, near Al‑Marj.
He reminisced about their childhood migration to Egypt at age five, and the Egyptian government’s generosity toward Libyan exiles. Omar Al‑Mukhtar had three wives—two from the Bransiya tribe and one, his mother, from the Al‑Jilani family—who accompanied them to Egypt. Their household included several relatives, such as Abu Muhammad Al‑Mukhtar (the eldest cousin) and his son Mukhtar, who fell martyr in battle.
He shared that Omar Al‑Mukhtar was known for his generosity and devotion to the Quran—he once supported a Yemeni named Mubarak who joined the Libyan fighters despite having no possessions.
After the martyrdom of Omar Al‑Mukhtar, he grew up in Al‑Matrouh, then was called to Egypt by Idris Al‑Sanussi and attended school in Alexandria’s Al‑Shatbi district for five years. Later he joined the Sanussi army and was eventually promoted to the rank of Brigadier by our Leader, receiving a monthly salary. The Leader also built the palace where he now resides in peace and comfort. He praised the recent biographical film about Omar Al‑Mukhtar, which aired even on Italian television.
He shared news that Omar Al‑Mukhtar University will establish one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to the hero—something he described as wonderful and important. He called on all Libyans who possess any items—books, documents, photos, belongings—tied to Omar Al‑Mukhtar or his fellow fighters (like Yusuf Burhail, Al‑Fadil Bu‑Omar, Yusuf Al‑Juwayfi, Othman Al‑Shami, Abdul Hamid Al‑Abar, and others) to donate them to the museum.
He said he had no personal belongings of his father—Italy had seized everything: clothes, weapon, glasses, and memorabilia. He believes Italian museums must hold some of Omar Al‑Mukhtar’s items, and a resident of the Shahhat region reportedly still holds his eyeglasses.
He described his own family—the marriage in 1942, raising children, his late wife, adopted cousin Mansour, and continuing openness to all visitors in his Benghazi home.
When asked what Omar Al‑Mukhtar’s birthplace of Janzour means to him, he replied: “It witnessed the opening chapters of his life. Our grandfather Makhtār lived there; on pilgrimage in the Hijaz, he fell ill and entrusted his son Omar to be cared for by the local elders.” He visits Janzour and the cave where his father was born and hopes it receives more attention.
He urged all descendants of Omar Al‑Mukhtar to uphold his fight, protect Libya, respect its institutions, cultivate knowledge, and prove to the world they are his continuation. He still remembers some lines Omar would recite to encourage mujahideen during battle. He greatly admires a poem by Ahmed Shawqi eulogizing Omar Al‑Mukhtar.
He concluded by thanking Abdelrahman, noting that Omar Al‑Mukhtar’s wet nurse belonged to the Habeon tribe from Al‑Birdi region. He wished Abdulrahman a bright future, hoping he becomes a pillar for the homeland.
“Preserve the legacy of Omar Mukhtar—not just his life, but his values. Protect your country, seek education, honor your ancestors, and lead with integrity. That is my prayer for you, Abdulrahman and descendants of Omar Mukhtar. May your lives be a blessing to this nation.”
This deeply personal interview tells a story of reconnection, honor, and vision. It is a reminder that Omar Mukhtar’s legacy remains alive—not only in history books, but in ongoing acts of remembrance and renewal.
The older translation:
I wanted to say to the son of your father Griciana my father is hanged unjustly
* They put me in a school district Shatby in Alexandria and stayed out of five years
* I'm glad this kind invitation, as well as proud of the university that bears the name
My father Mujahid Omar Mukhtar
* I recommend Mohammed Omar Mukhtar Omar Mukhtar all descendants of all Libyans who have Holdings, books and pictures and anything for Omar Al-Mukhtar Ahoudrōh that those in charge of the Museum of Omar Al-Mukhtar University, which will be marked in white
* One of them told me that a population of Cyrene area retains a portfolio of Omar Mukhtar
Interviewed in his house: Abdulrahman safety
Haj Mohammed, son of Sheikh Omar Mukhtar of the martyrs, I'm sober I met him in the selected dialogues former first was in the city of Derna when the Association honored the Mujahideen militant spirit
Hero Joseph Borahil cuneiform, and the second meeting was in his home city of Benghazi when I visited him together with the writer Hussein's share-Maliki, was interviewed in the month of Ramadan, after the withdrawal of Italian Prime Minister, who bowed before him and before his hand in front of the sight of the world, here I am I have the honor of calling on behalf of the University of Omar Mukhtar and the dean to attend the ceremony graduation this year, when he told me the editor area and chosen by Salem Alhendaoaonni of will carry this card and the official invitation joy was overwhelming, and how not to and I Saekhal my eyes to see the son of Omar Mukhtar in his own house, which lined the pond and full tranquility and purity, and when I entered his house, I felt the generosity of the chosen who gave age and sacrificed his life for the home is connected to his son, who was Ahtfaah me great, and met me with a smile and satisfaction of reminded me of are obviously the former with him and expressed his happiness with published field at that time suggested in the eyes of several questions, all about his recent visit to Italy he started talking about this historic visit, saying:
- Was an apology historically in the presence of Brother Leader Muammar Gaddafi has been ratified by the Senate and Italian Chamber of Deputies and a blessed step too and the pursuit of good from the Leader, and was in recognition of the error and apologized to him the meaning and significance, and visit us this is a victory for our ancestors and our fathers, and a victory for Omar Al-Mukhtar until the leader of the revolution in This visit put on his chest a picture of Omar Mukhtar, when his family Italy, and the fact that pride for us and the Arab and Islamic nation and was a good trip and all the meanings, and I went down from a ladder plane Mhli and've met Italian Prime Minister On the second day we went to visit the Senate and the leader gave a speech there, We had the mujahideen sons and grandchildren, and our admiration in the eyes of everyone hero Omar Mukhtar and when expressed keen on photography with me and the children of the Mujahideen, as we have also visited the headquarters of the Italian Senate.
- Is this the first visit?
- This is the third visit
- What do you know would like to visit you this?
- The fact that I when I came to Italy on the last day of the visit I asked for sons Griciana told me that he had a son, too old, I asked them to meet him and was told to me that in a place far from the city where we were, Vtmanat to meet him and talk with him and I wanted to ask him several questions and talk with him about his father, and Oddt to say to the son of Griciana that your father is hanged my father unlawfully, and that your father one of the leaders who went on a rampage in our land and killing thousands of innocent people and destroyed homes and fill the wells and installation of the gallows, I wanted to ask him to return the glasses and my father Omar Mukhtar because his father Griciana is taken, and I tell him that he put barbed wire between us and Egypt, from the construction of detention camps, although he said he was impressed by the age of the chosen, I would tell him that our victories are different from any victories, the other because it is renewable and, most recently What the Leader of the Revolution when he brutally forced you to recognize what Artkpettmoh the Libyan people and to compensate for the loss of physical and moral integrity.
- Is there a difference between the face of this visit and its predecessors?
- This trip has signed on, I was with the leader in Tiarth own, it has been slow in his walk for peace because he knows I can not get off quickly and waiting for me on the ladder of the plane and was looking at me as if I heard him say to them, brought the following Aatmarkm and after your recognition brutally committed by fathers and grandparents when they stayed at home invaders.
- How do you see a tent set up by the leader in Italy?
- The tent is great and a tent tall and all the Italians reach it and we saw admiration in their eyes to this tent and the leader held several meetings of the Libyans who are in Italy inside this tent and this tent is stepping up and we are reminded Italians tent, which harbored many fighters and reminded them Boukemat detention centers and reminded them also tent that negotiated the Italy, the recent negotiations with the parents of martyrs Sheikh Omar Mukhtar (1929) P in an area called Sir Arhomh. Near the city of Meadow, and the tent this tent a great leader and the need for exquisite.
When we return you back Do you remember anything of the features and qualities of Omar Mukhtar?
- We emigrated to Egypt and I was about five years and the Egyptian government has a great credit to the Libyans and received us Egypt's well-received, and Omar Mukhtar Allah's mercy he married three women Brasaat then married two women Msmaratin then my mother, one of the Al-Jilani, and who have migrated with us to Egypt, three of his wives and one Brasah and other cuneiform Add to my mother, and also emigrated with us my uncle's brother, Omar Al-Mukhtar Al-Hajj Muhammad Mukhtar and also my cousin Salim Muhammad Mukhtar, and my uncle Mohammed of choice is greater than Aldeamr chosen and he had a son, Mukhtar was killed in a battle against the Italians in the meadow, and also had a son Another is Abdul Qadir He also cited with ten of the Mujahideen by the Italians in the region of leaded and two others are the Hamad and Salim and they all four are the sons of my uncle Mohammad Mukhtar, and my cousin Hamad Mohammed Mukhtar has five children one of them in Tripoli and the other in Benghazi, and my cousin Salim Mohamed Mukhtar has one son was in the army and then referred to the retirement of his key which is also the son of my sister, and Omar Al-Mukhtar was he has four children Tovahm God and from an early age was left of them the others, as well as I have three sisters and one daughter Aisha and died in Matruh and other Tovihama God in the city of Benghazi years 1990 P and 1998 P, and my father was God's mercy when it comes to Alndja a lot of tips and compassion between people and address them patriotism and not to waste any inch of it, and say to all you Koran and taught to the young and even when they emigrated to Egypt recommended that one of the elders of Al-Azhar taught us the Qur'an.
- Are there any stories related to Omar Al-Mukhtar and still stuck in your mind?
- Yes, my uncle Mohammad Mukhtar may God have mercy on him told us about my father, Omar Mukhtar and how he was generous and help everybody not with the Libyans only, but every Muslim to come to him as meaning something, he sought to meet his request, and among those helped them to Mubarak, Yemeni, who came to Libya with the Italians, but he joined the Mujahideen with some of his fellow Yemeni and he does not have a thing of the pleasures of this world but my parents helped him and made him part of our fighters and gave him everything he wants, also of the things that was characterized by my father's great love of the Qur'an and teach children the Koran teaches that science is the light.
- After the death of Omar Mukhtar How was your life?
- I lived with my uncle and with my cousins Hamad and Salim, and my childhood I spent in Matruh and then Astdaana Idris al-Sanusi and stayed with him in the bathroom in Egypt, and I put me in a school district Shatby in Alexandria and stayed out of five years, and then the fact that Idris al-Sanusi alliance with Britain, called the Libyan to form an army and I also entered the army, and I think that it was in 1939 P, but in the era of the Revolution has become for me a monthly stipend, and the Leader issued a decree promoted me to the rank of brigadier and I I get now pay Dean, as he ordered the construction of this palace where I live and I thank God I live in the satisfaction and peace of mind, and also of the good things that their leader is the production of the film Omar Mukhtar this great work that he knew of these generations jihad Omar Mukhtar and his heroes, and even in Italy, published and broadcast in some channels of Italy in recent times.
- The coming days will be placed the foundation stone of the Museum of Omar Mukhtar, who will be marked University of Omar Al-Mukhtar, who will be one of the largest museums in the world, what do you say in this step that would give all the recognition - the establishment of the museum is an excellent very the be for the lifetime of the chosen museum of its own brings together everything related to age chosen and embraced by the University of Omar Al-Mukhtar is also something good, and I, through you, bless this project good as I call on all of there has a bit of Holdings Omar Mukhtar to attend to those in charge of the museum and recognized by all visitors to Libya and anyone who wants to know more about Omar Mukhtar, This is a call from me for each of the likes of Omar Mukhtar him to donate what he is keeping in his house, and for Omar al-Mukhtar from books or clothes or special things as well as manuscripts, books or pictures of him as well as for the Mujahideen who were close to him such as Joseph Borahil and holy Buamr and Joseph Jawafa, Othman Al-Shami and Abdul Hameed Alabbar and other to attend to those in charge of setting up such a great project, and I pray to God in these blessed days to bless this work and to facilitate the steps I also call for the owners and for the University and manage the pool and satisfaction, and I repeat again, I recommend I am Mohammed Omar Mukhtar all descendants of Omar Mukhtar and all Libyans who have Holdings, books and pictures and anything for Omar Al-Mukhtar Ahoudrōh that those in charge of the Museum of Omar Al-Mukhtar University, which will be marked in white.
- What are the honors which it obtained in the past?
- P of 1952 I visited Egypt Muhammad Naguib and gave me Sam Nile No. 2, as well as several medals from Yemen and also the Order of the Liberation Army and also the honor of the Revolutionary Command Council.
- Do you have something Holdings Omar Mukhtar?
- I do not have anything for the possessions of my father because Italy took all Mguetnayate and his clothes and belongings of took his clothes and stripped him and also his rifle and his glasses, and even Gressani when he began to investigate him remove his glasses and said to him Do you know this answered it my glasses occurred to me during our fight with you in a battle , and said to him, also I've got other Vaanfez by Gressani, and we're still demand from the Italian authorities in those glasses, glasses Omar Mukhtar, and certainly museums Italian contain things to Omar Al-Mukhtar, and collectibles that I heard they are in Libya has said to me one of them to a population area of Cyrene maintains a portfolio of Omar Mukhtar.
- Tell us about your family are you?
- I got married in 1942, P and married one of the cousins of the tribe Omnfah Al Bredan and marry her in Matruh and came with me to Libya, then married to another woman is also a girl my uncle who was born Alexandria, which is still present with me now but my first wife Vetovaha God in 1985 P , and also had been living with me one of my cousins and I Tbenith since the age of three years and he died Allah's mercy and was named Massoud chosen and lived with me all his life and fathered four sons one of them with me now and the others living in the corner of Omar Mukhtar Someone officer in the Navy and the other named good God was with me in my recent visit to Italy, a fact that follows me in most of my travels State has accompanied me to Germany, Tunisia and Egypt several times while Abdul Rahim is present with me at home and also his sister's expensive, a nurse found me to be married, and I my house is open to everyone and try to help people as I can.
- Omar Mukhtar was born in a village in Janzour Batnan what do you mean this area?
- Yes, this area which witnessed the early days of Omar Mukhtar I cherish it very much and was also a serious choice live in this region, along with a Algraana and went to the Hijaz to perform Hajj along with his wife, "my grandmother Aisha" and when fatigue and disease there before moving to the face of God had commanded him and told him, I advise you to better my son Mohammed, Omar and Algraana have duty to my father and my uncle, and I am from time to time I visit Tobruk during social events since the months I was in a visit to Tobruk, I also visited the area Janzour and passed to the cave where he was born my father Omar Mukhtar and found it the new wall and also there is another building seems to break but has not yet been completed, and I hope that there will be greater attention to this important cave.
- What do you recommend to the descendants of Omar Mukhtar?
- I recommend maintaining jihad biography of Omar Mukhtar and fragrant and the protection of this country and the achievements of this nation and the attention to science and learning and to maintain state facilities, and develop themselves to prove to the world that they are descendants of Omar Mukhtar extension of Omar Mukhtar.
- Can you save anything from the poems of Omar Mukhtar?
- Omar Mukhtar spent all his life in jihad and I memorized some verses which were repeated by the mujahideen during the jihad urging them and encouraging them and these words:
Ajwad horse riding and what Anmayloa tons, and I am very impressed with Ahmed Shawki poem and in the lament uttered by Omar Al-Mukhtar, one of the wonderful poems that have been said at the age of the chosen.
- Hear from some of the production companies they are considering a series of Omar Mukhtar
- I also heard more than once this talk but did not come one of them to talk with me formally in this regard, and he wants to do this job he has to take the information from his family and relatives, and the fact that the film created a Akkad, Allah's mercy and also the artist Alomrakiantonio Quinn, and tell you that a my cousins Hamad chosen his name hidden is in America now and when he heard him the Son of Antonio Quinn came to him and know him and he was received well received and said, My father is from the role of uncle Omar Mukhtar, and I love that relentless spirit of director Akkad, who died of years and I went to the Syrian Embassy and presented condolences to his family and there are those who say that he was murdered and if any one cause in his death and his daughter is God Almighty by.
- Is there continues between you and the sons and grandsons of the mujahideen?
- Yes, most of them visiting me and visit them on holidays and events, who is visiting me constantly that we are neighbors by virtue of the holy sons of Moses and the sons of Abdul Hamid Alabbar, all of whom are happy historic visit to Italy and also stressed several times that the attitudes towards them the positions of a great leader.
- A final word:
- Thank you, my son, Abdul Rahman and you are of the tribe striving tribe Ahbun and know you that women who breastfed my father Omar al-Mukhtar from birth until weaning is one of the tribe Ahbun of the papyrus and I do not remember her name now, and I wish you a future and good, and God made you an asset to this country.
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