Editing Muammar Gaddafi (section)

==== Third International Theory and ''The Green Book'' ====
{{Main|Third International Theory|The Green Book (Muammar Gaddafi)}}

In June 1973, Gaddafi created a political ideology as a basis for the Popular Revolution: [[Third International Theory]]. This approach regarded both the US and the Soviet Union as imperialist and thus rejected Western [[capitalism]] as well as Marxist–Leninist atheism.{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1p=150|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2pp=86–87|3a1=St. John|3y=2012|3pp=157–158}} In this respect, it was similar to the [[Three Worlds Theory]] developed by China's political leader [[Mao Zedong]].{{sfn|Harris|1986|p=58}} As part of this theory, Gaddafi praised [[nationalism]] as a progressive force and advocated the creation of a pan-Arab state which would lead the Islamic and Third Worlds against imperialism.{{sfn|St. John|2012|p=158}} Gaddafi saw Islam as having a key role in this ideology, calling for an [[Islamic revival]] that returned to the origins of the [[Qur'an]], rejecting scholarly interpretations and the [[Hadith]]; in doing so, he angered many Libyan clerics.{{sfnm|1a1=Harris|1y=1986|1p=49|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2p=122|3a1=St. John|3y=2012|3p=159}} During 1973 and 1974, his government deepened the legal reliance on ''sharia'', for instance by introducing [[Flagellation|flogging]] as punishment for those convicted of adultery or homosexual activity.{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1p=163|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2p=112}}

Gaddafi summarized Third International Theory in three short volumes published between 1975 and 1979, collectively known as ''[[The Green Book (Muammar Gaddafi)|The Green Book]]''. Volume one was devoted to the issue of democracy, outlining the flaws of representative systems in favour of direct, participatory GPCs. The second dealt with Gaddafi's beliefs regarding socialism, while the third explored social issues regarding the family and the tribe. While the first two volumes advocated radical reform, the third adopted a [[social conservatism|socially conservative]] stance, proclaiming that while men and women were equal, they were biologically designed for different roles in life.{{sfnm|1a1=Blundy|1a2=Lycett|1y=1987|1pp=96–100|2a1=Vandewalle|2y=2008b|2p=19|3a1=Kawczynski|3y=2011|3p=24|4a1=St. John|4y=2012|4pp=161–165}} During the years that followed, Gaddafists adopted quotes from ''The Green Book'', such as "Representation is Fraud", as slogans.{{sfn|St. John|2012|p=162}} Meanwhile, in September 1975, Gaddafi implemented further measures to increase popular mobilization, introducing objectives to improve the relationship between the Councils and the ASU.{{sfn|St. John|2012|p=165}}

{{Anchor|1975 Libyan coup attempt}}In 1975, Gaddafi's government declared a [[state monopoly]] on foreign trade.{{sfn|Bearman|1986|pp=145–146}} Its increasingly radical reforms, coupled with the large amount of oil revenue being spent on foreign causes, generated discontent in Libya,{{sfnm|1a1=Vandewalle|1y=2008b|1p=18|2a1=Kawczynski|2y=2011|2p=23}} particularly among the country's merchant class.{{sfn|Bearman|1986|p=146}} In 1974, Libya saw its first civilian attack on Gaddafi's government when a Benghazi army building was bombed.{{sfn|Blundy|Lycett|1987|p=114}} Much of the opposition centred around RCC member [[Omar Mehishi|Umar Muhayshi]]. With fellow RCC members [[Bashir Saghir Hawadi|Bashir Saghir al-Hawaadi]] and Awad Ali Hamza, he began plotting a coup against Gaddafi.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Refugees |first=United Nations High Commissioner for |title=Refworld {{!}} Libya: The role of Omar al-Meheshi in Colonel Qaddafi's revolution; his activities in the 1975 coup attempt and in developing opposition movements in Morocco and Egypt (1969 - present) |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aaad48.html |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=Refworld |language=en |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202035935/https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aaad48.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1975, their plot was exposed and Muhayshi fled to Tunisia, eventually receiving asylum from Sadat's Egypt.{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1p=146|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2p=118|3a1=Vandewalle|3y=2008b|3p=18|4a1=Kawczynski|4y=2011|4p=23|5a1=St. John|5y=2012|5p=165}} Hawaadi, Hamza, and [[Omar El-Hariri]] were arrested. Most of the other conspirators were executed in March 1976.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack |date=13 November 1985 |title=Fighter Against Qaddafi Betrayed |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP90-00965R000100120018-2.pdf |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173332/https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP90-00965R000100120018-2.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Another RCC member, foreign minister [[Abdel Moneim al-Houni|Abdul-Munim al-Huni]], also fled to Egypt.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Libya - Exiled Opposition |url=http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-8220.html |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=www.country-data.com |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210025158/http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-8220.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–9, Part 1, Documents on North Africa, 1973–1976 - Office of the Historian |url=https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve09p1/d53 |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=history.state.gov |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173332/https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve09p1/d53 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the aftermath, only five RCC members remained: Gaddafi, Jalloud, [[Abu-Bakr Yunis Jabr]], [[Mustafa Kharubi]], and [[Khweldi Hameidi|Kweldi al-Hamidi]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ash |first=Nigel |date=17 July 2015 |title=Cancer kills top Qaddafi aide ten days before trial verdict |url=https://www.libyaherald.com/2015/07/cancer-kills-top-qaddafi-aide-ten-days-before-trial-verdict/ |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=LibyaHerald |language=en-US |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202035222/https://www.libyaherald.com/2015/07/cancer-kills-top-qaddafi-aide-ten-days-before-trial-verdict/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=اكتشف 10 معلومات عن اللواء مصطفى الخروبي |url=https://www.afrigatenews.net/article/%D8%A5%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%81-10-%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B7%D9%81%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A/ |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=www.afrigatenews.net |language=ar |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210082436/https://www.afrigatenews.net/article/%D8%A5%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%81-10-%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B7%D9%81%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ufheil-Somers |first=Amanda |date=4 November 1986 |title=Libya's Revolution Revisited |url=https://merip.org/1986/11/libyas-revolution-revisited/ |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=MERIP |language=en-US |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202034711/https://merip.org/1986/11/libyas-revolution-revisited/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Thus, power was further concentrated in Gaddafi's hands.{{sfn|Bearman|1986|p=147}} This ultimately led to the RCC's official abolition in March 1977.{{sfn|St. John|2012|p=165}}

In September 1975, Gaddafi purged the army, arresting around 200 senior officers, and in October he founded the clandestine Office for the Security of the Revolution.{{sfn|Blundy|Lycett|1987|pp=118–119}} In April 1976, he called upon his supporters in universities to establish "revolutionary student councils" and drive out "reactionary elements".{{sfn|Bearman|1986|p=148}} During that year, anti-Gaddafist student demonstrations broke out at the universities of Tripoli and Benghazi, resulting in clashes with both Gaddafist students and police. The RCC responded with mass arrests and introduced compulsory [[national service]] for young people.{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1p=148|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2pp=119–120|3a1=Vandewalle|3y=2008b|3p=18|4a1=Kawczynski|4y=2011|4p=23}} In January 1977, two dissenting students and a number of army officers were publicly hanged; [[Amnesty International]] condemned it as the first time in Gaddafist Libya that dissenters had been executed for purely political crimes.{{sfn|Blundy|Lycett|1987|pp=121–122}} Dissent also arose from conservative clerics and the Muslim Brotherhood, who accused Gaddafi of moving towards Marxism and criticized his abolition of private property as being against the Islamic ''[[sunnah]]''; these forces were then persecuted as anti-revolutionary,{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1p=162|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2pp=122–123|3a1=Kawczynski|3y=2011|3pp=29–30}} while all privately owned Islamic colleges and universities were shut down.{{sfn|Bearman|1986|p=148}}