The Movement for the Return of Constitutional Legitimacy in Libya is a movement in Libya that advocates the reinstatement of the 1951 Constitution and the restoration of the historic Senussi monarchy.
Support for the 1951 Constitution emerged from the instability and chaos created by the Libyan Civil War, during which time the country grew divided across political, tribal, regional and ideological lines. The movement views the 1951 Constitution as the viable and credible path towards a democratic, unified, and independent new Libya. Furthermore, the movement holds that Prince Mohammed El Senussi should assume leadership as the legitimate heir to Senussi throne.
Affiliated grassroots campaigns termed as Movements for the Return of Constitutional Legitimacy are happening on the ground in major cities such as Tripoli, Benghazi, Zliten, Kufra, Misrata, Sebha, Jebel Akhdar, Khums, Nalut, Jadu, Sebratha, Aziziya, Ghyrian and Karabulli.
1951 Libya Constitution
The pre-revolutionary Constitution, instituted in December 1951 and later amended in 1963, was drafted by the Libyan National Assembly under the aegis of the United Nations. It established a constitutional and hereditary monarchy under the leadership of King Idris I of Libya.
The 1951 Constitution is viewed by the Libyan people as a symbol of the freedom and independence the country achieved in post-war Libya. It is based upon a democratic system of government with a representative parliamentary system under a constitutional monarchy. Many of the 1951 Constitution's articles established a set of fundamental rights for its citizens, including civil, political, and property rights, freedom of thought and speech, religious tolerance and universal adult suffrage.
Article 11 of the 1951 Constitution safeguards human rights:“Libyans shall be equal before the law. They shall enjoy equal civil and political rights, shall have the same opportunities, and be subject to the same public duties and obligations, without distinction of religion, belief, race, language, wealth, kinship or political or social opinions.”Additionally, Article 12 holds that “Personal liberty shall be guaranteed and everyone shall be entitled to equal protection of the law.”
Article 21 protects rights with respect to religion:“Freedom of conscience shall be absolute. The State shall respect all religions and faiths and shall ensure to foreigners residing in its territory freedom of conscience and the right freely to practice religion so long as it is not a breach of public order and is not contrary to morality.” Freedom of speech and opinion both publicly and in the press are protected in Articles 22 – 26: “Freedom of thought shall be guaranteed. Everyone shall have the right to express his opinion and to publish it by all means and methods. But this freedom may not be abused in any way which is contrary to public order and morality.” “Freedom of press and of printing shall be guaranteed within the limits of the law.”“Everyone shall be free to use any language in his private transactions or religious or cultural matters or in the Press or any other publications or in public meetings.”“The right of peaceful meetings is guaranteed within the limits of law.”
Senussi monarchy
In 1837, Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi established the Senussi political-religious tariqa (Sufi order) in Mecca. Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi's grandson, who assumed the leadership of the Senussi order in 1917, became Emir of Cyrenaica in 1920 and King Idris of Libya in 1951.
The Senussi monarchy played a unifying role in Libya and continues to be regarded as a fundamental part of the country's history, helping to protect it from French colonial expansion and the Kingdom of Italy's colonization in the early 1900s along with playing a crucial role against forces in North Africa during World War II.
The monarchy was in place from 1951 until Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's coup in 1969 and brought stability and good governance to Libya.
Heir to the Senussi throne
Libyan royalists view Prince Mohammed El Senussi, great-nephew of King Idris, as the legitimate heir to the Senussi throne. In 1992, El Senussi's ailing father, then Crown Prince Hasan as-Senussi, appointed him as successor to the throne.
Throughout the strife of the Libyan crisis, Mohammed El Senussi has vocalized his patriotism and advocated for a more prosperous Libya. He has commented on many Libyan matters through the years and has supported activists throughout the civil war.