Omar al-Mukhtar
Libyan resistance leader (1858–1931) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Omar al-Mukhṭār Muḥammad bin Farḥāṭ al-Manifī (Arabic: عُمَر الْمُخْتَار مُحَمَّد بِن فَرْحَات الْمَنِفِي; 20 August 1858 – 16 September 1931), called The Lion of the Desert, known among the colonial Italians as Matari of the Mnifa,[4] was an Imam and leader of native resistance in Cyrenaica (currently Eastern Libya) under the Senussids, against the Italian colonization of Libya. A teacher-turned-general, Omar was a prominent figure of the Senussi movement and is considered the national hero of Libya and a symbol of resistance in the Arab and Islamic worlds. Beginning in 1911, he organised and led the Libyan resistance movement against the Italian colonial empire during the First and Second Italo-Senussi Wars. Externally, he also fought against the French colonization of Chad and the British occupation of Egypt.[5] After many attempts, the Italian Armed Forces managed to capture Al-Mukhtar near Slonta when he was wounded in battle by Libyan colonial troops, and hanged him in 1931 after he refused to surrender.
Omar al-Mukhtar عُمَر الْمُخْتَار | |
|---|---|
 Assad El-Sahra (أسد الصحراء) or "Lion of the Desert" | |
| Ruler of Zawiyat Ayn Kalk | |
| In office 1896–1902 | |
| Succeeded by | Post abolished |
| Ruler of Zawiyat Luqsur | |
| In office 1902–1911[1] | |
| Succeeded by | Post abolished |
| Leader of Senussi Tribal Military | |
| In office 24 April 1923 – 16 September 1931[2] | |
| Preceded by | Idris Al-Senussi |
| Succeeded by | Yusuf Borahil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1858-08-20)20 August 1858 Benghazi, Eyalet of Tripolitania, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 16 September 1931(1931-09-16) (aged 73) Soluch concentration camp, Benghazi, Italian Cyrenaica |
| Resting place | Suluq |
| Nationality | Ottoman, Libyan |
| Children | Muhammad |
| Parent(s) | Al-Mukhtar ibn Muhammad (father) Aisha bint Muharib (mother) |
| Occupation | Ruler of Senussi Zawiyas |
| Known for | Leading Arab native resistance to Italian colonization of Ottoman Tripolitania |
| Religion | Sunni Islam[3] |
| Signature |  |
| Nickname(s) | Shaykh ash-Shuhadā' شَيخ الشُّهَدَاء, Sheikh of the Martyrs |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Senussi Order |
| Branch/service | Senussid Military Adwar |
| Years of service | |
| Battles/wars | Italo-Turkish War Senussi campaign Senussid-Italian War |