Muhammad Gaddafi
{{distinguish|Muammar Gaddafi}}
{{short description|First son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (born 1970)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Muhammad Gaddafi
{{lang|ar|محمد القذافي}}
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age| 1970|3|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Tripoli, Libyan Arab Republic
| death_date =
| death_place =
| parents = Muammar Gaddafi (father)
Fathia Nuri (mother)
| relatives = Safia Farkash (step-mother)
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi (half-brother)
Al-Saadi Gaddafi (half-brother)
Hannibal Gaddafi (half-brother)
Ayesha Gaddafi (half-sister)
Mutassim Gaddafi (half-brother)
Saif al-Arab Gaddafi (half-brother)
Khamis Gaddafi (half-brother)
}}
Muhammad Muammar Gaddafi ({{langx|ar|محمد معمر القذافي}}; born 15 March 1970) is the eldest son of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. While he was regarded as a possible successor to his father as ruler of Libya, he was reportedly uninterested in the role.{{cite news |url=http://nymag.com/print/?/news/politics/saif-qaddafi-2011-5/index3.html |title=The Good Bad Son |first=James|last=Verini |work=New York Magazine |date=22 May 2011 |accessdate=20 June 2011}} In 2005, Muhammad was involved in an armed standoff with his half-brother Mutassim over the control of a Coca-Cola bottling plant.{{Cite news |last1=Lichtblau |first1=Eric |last2=Rohde |first2=David |last3=Risen |first3=James |date=2011-03-24 |title=Shady Dealings Helped Qaddafi Build Fortune and Regime |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world/africa/24qaddafi.html |access-date=2023-03-05 |issn=0362-4331}}
He was also the chairman of the General Posts and Telecommunications Company which owned and operated cell phone and satellite services in Libya and the temporary head of the Libyan Football Federation at the time.{{cite news|work=Cellular News|date=26 February 2007|url=http://www.cellular-news.com/story/22228.php|title=Libya Planning to Privatize Phone Networks|accessdate=15 October 2011}} The company is the exclusive internet provider in Libya, and immediately after the beginning of protests against the Gaddafi government in February 2011 which led to the Libyan Civil War, it cut internet links between Libya and the rest of the world.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2011/feb/19/libya-bahrain-protests-live-updates|work=The Guardian|date=19 February 2011|title=Libya and Bahrain protests – Saturday 19 February|accessdate=15 October 2011}}
Libyan civil war
On 30 April 2011, one of Muhammad's children was killed by a NATO airstrike along with his half-brother Saif al-Arab Gaddafi.{{Cite web |date=2011-05-02 |title=Thousands turn up at funeral of Gaddafi's son |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20110502-crowds-gather-funeral-gaddafi-son-killed-nato-saif-al-arab |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=France 24 |language=en}} Muhammad was among the 2,000 mourners at Saif al-Arab's funeral along with his half-brother Saif al-Islam on 2 May 2011.{{Cite news |last=Denyer |first=Simon |date=2011-05-02 |title=Mourners vow revenge as Gaddafi's son is buried |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/mourners_vow_revenge_as_gaddafis_son_buried_in_tripoli/2011/05/02/AFwXD9aF_story.html |access-date=2023-02-03 |issn=0190-8286}}
On 21 August 2011, Muhammad surrendered to rebel forces of the National Transitional Council as they took over Tripoli.{{Cite news | first1 = Kareem|last1=Fahim|first2=David D.|last2=Kirkpatrick | title = Little Resistance as Rebels Enter Tripoli | work = The New York Times | date = 21 August 2011 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/world/africa/22libya.html?_r=1&hp| accessdate =21 August 2011}} While being in custody in his home, he gave a phone interview to Al Jazeera, saying that he surrendered to the rebels and had been treated well before the line went dead from apparent gunfire. The National Transitional Council head later spoke to Al Jazeera assuring Muhammad's safety. Muhammad spoke to Al Jazeera again confirming his safety and that of his family.{{Cite web|title=Gaddafi Son in Libyan Rebel Custody|work=Al Jazeera|date=21 August 2011|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/video/africa/2011/08/201182222513615767.html|accessdate=21 August 2011}}
On 22 August 2011, he escaped reportedly with the help of Gaddafi loyalists.{{Cite web|title=Gaddafi Son escaped|work=Al Jazeera| date =22 August 2011 | url = http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-aug-22-2011-2122|accessdate =22 August 2011}}
= In exile =
On 29 August 2011, he entered Algeria along with several other members of the Gaddafi family.{{cite news | url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/08/2011829171617807937.html | title=Gaddafi family members flee to Algeria| work=Al Jazeera English | date=29 August 2011 | accessdate=29 August 2011}} In October 2012, they left a hideaway in Algeria to go to Oman, where they were granted political asylum.{{cite magazine | url=https://world.time.com/2013/04/03/muammar-gaddafis-daughter-thrown-out-of-algeria-after-starting-fires-in-safe-house/ | title=Muammar Gaddafi's Daughter Thrown Out of Algeria After Starting Fires in Safe House | magazine=Time | date=3 April 2013 | access-date=4 January 2023}} As of 2023, he was reported to reside in the Sultanate of Oman.{{cite news |title=12 Years After Gaddafi's Death, What Do We Know about His Family? |url=https://english.aawsat.com/features/4617141-12-years-after-gaddafi%E2%80%99s-death-what-do-we-know-about-his-family |work=english.aawsat.com |language=en}}
References
{{Portal|Libya|Biography}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Muammar Gaddafi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaddafi, Muhammad}}
Category:People of the Libyan civil war (2011)
Category:Libyan Arab Socialist Union politicians
Category:Escapees from Libyan detention
Category:Libyan emigrants to Oman
Category:Children of heads of state
Category:Children of prime ministers
{{Libya-politician-stub}}