Book describes alleged use of sex as a weapon of power by Gaddafi

A new book by a French journalist described the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi , who died in 2011, as a "sexual predator" who kidnapped and raped her, according to the author, "thousands" of victims, including men. Until Libyan ministers, military, actresses and wives of presidents and African diplomats have suffered sexual abuse by Gaddafi, says journalist Annick Cojean, special reporter of the daily Le Monde. Gadhafi, who has ruled Libya for 42 years, had an unbridled sexuality, with impulses that needed to be met four times per day, according to the author, who based his book on reports made by victims, teachers, doctors and former employees of dictator. Cojean account in the book "Les Proies - Dans le harem of Gaddafi" (Prey - In Gaddafi's harem) that the former leader had employees seeking girls, and sometimes boys too, everywhere, like schools, Holidays homes and villages. "Gaddafi watching videos of weddings to select girls, so when he did not choose his own bride. Many Libyans were hesitant to invite him to parties for fear that their daughters were taken then," said Cojean the French media during the promotion work the book. She said the former leader also sexually abused celebrities, journalists, generals daughters or wives of politicians, sometimes through the use of force. In other cases, distributing bags of jewels and money later. "Gadhafi forced some ministers to have sex with him to control them by a kind of blackmail. Course no one was interested in talking about this total humiliation. He proceeded similarly with tribal leaders, diplomats and military influence to have about them, "he says. One of the interviewees in the book, Mansour Daw, a former security chief and cousin of Gaddafi, who is in prison, does not deny those aspects of the scheme and claims to have performed the marriage of his son discreetly, banning the use of cell phones to avoid that Gadhafi could see pictures from the party. "I did not want my family were a victim of their acts," Daw said the journalist, the book says.

"Magic Touch"

During events such as school visits, Gadhafi himself could also designate a teenager to put his hand on his head, claims the journalist. "It was a code for their guards, signaling that he wanted the girl, usually in the range of 13 to 15 years old," says Cojean. The "signal" given by Gaddafi to his guards was called, she said, the "magic touch". "These young people served to feed his sexual brutality. He kept them in the basement of his home in Bab al-Azizia (a fortified barracks), and raping, forcing them to drink, get high and watch porn," says Cojean. The underground sequestration of residence, with numerous rooms, could last a few days or much longer. As the turnover was huge, Cojean says it is impossible to know the exact number of victims. "This is the most sordid harem terrible taboo the years Gaddafi. Today, despite the death of the former leader, victims still have everything to lose if he revealed the secret, "says the journalist. "The social and religious pressure is very strong. They will be rejected and their families as well. Fathers, brothers and husbands are considered sub-human because they did not wash the honor with blood," said Cojean.

AIDS testing

According to the book, Ukrainian nurses performed blood tests on the victims to make sure they did not have AIDS, since Qaddafi had strong fears of contracting the disease. The doctor Faisel Krekshi appointed dean of the University of Tripoli after the revolution, told journalists have discovered in the building of the institution a "bachelor" with jacuzzi and golden taps. According to the journalist, he said he found on site eight or nine DVDs with images of sexual assaults committed by Gaddafi, but said it had destroyed the material to preserve the victims. Across the room, there was a gynecological examination room fully equipped, the journalist who claims to have visited. "I see only two possibilities of utilizing this hidden room: abortions and hymen reconstruction surgeries, banned in Libya," said Krekshi.

Amazon

Before writing the book, Cojean was published last year, a report in Le Monde about the girl Soraya, who after delivering flowers to Gaddafi during a visit to her school when she was 15, received the "magic touch". The girl, who lived in Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, was taken the next day by three women and has been for five years his sex slave. Soraya was part of the team that were welded safety of Gaddafi and accompanied by all sides. In the West, these women, disguised and sculptural, were called "Amazons". "This guard Gadhafi was a facade. They were his sex slaves and there were really very few military training. Their real security was held by men," says the author. To Cojean, Gaddafi has used sex as a political weapon. "Taking means women dominate men," she says. The book will be released this month in Libya. "I think it will cause a huge shock and debates in the country," says Cojean.