The Chairman of the Culture Authority at Al-Thanni-chaired eastern government, Khalid Najim condemned the confiscation of literary and cultural books while on their way from Tobruk to Benghazi by Al-Marj-based Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Authority.

“I truly decry the confiscation of books and consider it a blatant violation of the freedom of thought.” Najim wrote on his Facebook, adding that they won’t succumb to such violations and will defend freedom even just by words.

He added that the books were of very normal contents such as novels and other cultural books, pointing out that they are not what the confiscators said at all.

“There is an administration to control the content of the books at the Culture Authority and they are tasked to determine whether or not a book is agreeable to the Libyan reader or not.” Najim remarked.

Benghazi media and culture office said the act of confiscating the books is very odious as it took away books from literature for prominent Arab and international literary figures, indicating that it is a shame that those who intercepted the books’ cargoes claimed that they contain contents about witchcraft and conjuration.

Al-Marj security department displayed a footage of the confiscated truck loaded with books in the presence of the head of Al-Marj office of the Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Authority, Masoud Al-Nathori and his assistant, who said the confiscation was done because the books advocate for Shiism, moral laxity, Sufism, secularism, and perversion.