Libya crisis becomes an opportunity for the Madkhalis

(The Christian Science Monitor) While the self-described Islamic State has tried to regain its footing in war-torn Libya, a less-known Islamist movement is quietly extending its influence across the country.

The Madkhalis, an ultraconservative Salafist group from Saudi Arabia, have been taking advantage of Libya’s post-revolution chaos to impose their hard-line interpretation of Islam through force and coercion, patrolling the streets and using their control over mosques to dramatically alter Libyan society.

To that end, the Madkhalis have aligned themselves with nearly every self-proclaimed government and warlord in Libya over the past three years, silencing liberal and Islamist critics in the process.