The investigating magistrate in the disappearance of Imam Moussa al-Sadr issued a warrant on Wednesday for the arrest of Libyan President Moammar al-Kaddafi and six of his associates, who were arrested in absentia, to be followed by the death penalty.

Judge Samih al-Hajj requested “the death penalty for Libyan President Colonel Moammar Abu Mohammed bin Manyara al-Kaddafi, who was arrested on April 24, 2008 in absentia and remains a fugitive after the kidnap of Imam Moussa al-Sadr, Sheikh Mohammed Yacoub and the journalist Abbas Badr al-Din.”

Hajj also requested Kaddafi’s six associates’ arrest in absentia on August 2, 2007.

“We hereby accuse the defendant Moammar Kaddafi … under Article 569/218 of the Lebanese Penal Code in terms of incitement to kidnap His Eminence Imam Musa al-Sadr, Grand Sheikh Mohammed Yaacoub, and the journalist Abbas Badr al-Din on August 31, 1978,” the resolution read.

The resolution also accused the defendants Mirghani Massoud al-Tumi, Ahmed Mohammed al-Hattab, Hadi Ibrahim Mustafa al-Saadawi, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Ghweili, Mohammed Khalifa bin Sahyoun, and Issa Massoud Abdullah al-Mansuri under Article 569 / 213 of the Lebanese Penal Code for their participation in the abduction.

-NOW Staff