Gaddafi's Harem: The Story of a Young Woman and the Abuses of Power in Libya

For many years we heard and saw words and images depicting a country under the control of an erratic dictator, who controlled Libya with a rod of iron, and hatred filled rhetoric, and most of the world seemed to offer little support, comfort or physical assistance to save him and his regime from an internal uprising fueled by Western Allies. I cannot recall much worldwide sorrow when Muammar Gaddafi was dragged from a sewer tube like a frightened rat and crudely executed by his own people.In her book "Gaddafi's Harem" special correspondent for Le Mode, and one of France's most admired journalists and author, Annick Cojean, reveals her meticulous research into another not as yet generally widely known aspect of this horrific man's evil characteristics namely his extreme sexual appetite fueled by massive a consumption of cocaine and viagra. His perverted actions knew no bounds of decency, or compassion, only excessive cruelty and brutality to scores and scores of young women and girls who were unfortunate enough to be 'ordered' and normally forced by his pimps and procuresses to his bed. Many of the unfortunates were very young girls whom he like the look of on visits to schools and universities, and were later rounded up by his lackeys, and taken to Gaddafi's compound, palace, tent or wherever this despicable dictator was staying.The book tells the detailed and shocking story of one such girl called Soraya who was ripped from her family having been 'touched' by Gaddafi during a visit to her school when she had just turned 15, and was brutalized, raped, frequently urinated on, and kept a prisoner who was forced to 'surrender' to 'The Guide' as he was known by his sycophants, whenever called and this was frequently. Gaddafi did not limit his demands to her, but had many such poor girls on tap to satisfy his seemingly unsatisfiable sexual perversions. His desires were not restricted to females, as he kept a 'stable'of young boys for frequent visits, very often at the same time as one or more of his female 'sex slaves'.He was totally obsessed with sex and the submissive control of women maintaining around him a large coterie of supposed personal guards known as The Amazons, but were also expected to perform other 'duties', high ranking people in his group who acted as arrangers of girls and women for his delectation, and many other accomplices and providers.After Gaddafi's regime had been dismantled, the author spent a great deal of time searching out others who might have suffered similarly to Soraya, not only for collaboration purposes but to paint a fuller picture of this evil man's malign influence, and she also relates many of their stories.This is a most harrowing story of unbelievable cruelty carried out on mainly young girls, where the threat of imprisoning and torturing brothers of girls who tried to resist Gaddafi's desires, was often made and carried out, until sexual submission was forthcoming. Gaddafi also extended his 'net' to the wives and daughters of other Heads of State, and their senior people, and by offering huge riches for favours seemingly had quite some success although on more than one occasion some very potentially damaging diplomatic incidents were brushed up against.There cannot have been a more repulsive leader of a nation ever than Gaddafi, and I commend Annick Cojean for producing this excellent account, and whilst it makes the stomach tighten with revulsion it, perhaps appeases our consciences for the military action that erased this man from our planet.A very good, highly readable but disturbing, excruciating book.

after reading this book ones heart felt more sorry for the parents than of soraya, her father who went out of his way even in the fear of retribution from the gaddafi's regime, even finding money so that their daughter could stay in france, what happened to soraya by gaddafi was disgraceful to say the least, but then decides to go back to libya, what i found interesting was even though to a degree she is a victim, she seems to decry being called a 'whore', from my brief history in life i always felt that anybody who sold their body for cash this is what they are, their is a part in the book where she discribes going to a house of the cousin to gaddafi where she earned 5000 dinars, that is equivalent to 2500 pound, and this was in a single night, now lets note here colonel gaddafi did not force her to do this, and lets remember for a night s work that must be a lot of men, so how can she justify to her family she is not a whore? even though we read in the book that her family have tainted her as such, where her brothers would like to kill her so they can reclaim the name to their name and gain the respect they have lost, my question when i read this was does your mum and dad know you went on many occasions to these houses selling yourself? because you can not blame Gaddafi for this, this is her choice, and sometimes you have to take responsibility for those choices, even though the book was well written and portraying her as a victim, which she is to a digree but she also has bought so much shame and disgrace to her family with her lies, and by selling herself to men at these parties, i can understand how her family feels, they bought her up with morals and to prepare her for this big wide world only to let her family down, what gaddafi done she will never get justice and yes she does deserve that, but one felt to she let herself down by committing herself to degrading acts away from gaddafi, where he did not force her to do, and i think the writer could have explained a little more why she took this turn of events, because sometimes their is two sides to every coin and sometimes that side needs to come out

The author has been either bluffed or a naive who did not familiar with the culture. Reading the text, I do believe that Soraya had never been a victim. In other words, she, more likely than not, had chosen to be connected to the tyrant. She and Her mother, the Tunisian or let us say Moroccan, probably were extremely happy for that. Such saloons are not solely for hair dressing; they sell other items and a beautiful female body is no exception. Having a connection with the perverted monarch would give the mother a power and protection; why not if her daughter was the Gaed’s concubine. At the same time, however, I do think that Soraya has taken another road to Algadafi; I mean she and her mother willingly walked that unscrupulous road. She left Paris back to Labia without any hesitation. What is more, she immediately contacted the dictator entourage. Similarly, she cannot sleep before 5 am or awake before 11 ha ha.... and she is a belly dancer. Let us see what the author has stated in the novella:’’ At the end of a long conversation she’d turn on the television to a channel with Egyptian videos, tie a scarf with metallic sequins around her hips, and—sexy and irresistible—would try to teach me how to belly dance. “Stand up straight, Annick! Arms wide, chest forward, big smile! That’s right! Sway and roll your hips!” The protagonist was not unique either in her lies or in her way of life; you can find the same in emirates, Saudi Arabia or Kuwait.