Libya: High Hopes for the Friday of Liberation · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
It's already Friday in Libya, and emotions are running high, as more protests are planned after Friday prayers in the capital Tripoli. The day has been billed as the “Friday of Liberation”, in hopes that it will mark the end of dictator Muammar Al Gaddafi's regime. Both Tunisia's President Zein El Abideen Ben Ali and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak's reigns ended on Fridays, after popular uprisings.
In this video posted by loveroflybia, a woman who identifies herself as a Libyan appeals to all men, young and old, to rise and take part in the protests, and die as martyrs to liberate their country.
LibyaFeb17 has the full translation to English. She says:
This corrupt tyrant must leave my country, must leave my country. Send them out with Zghareet (the tongue moving sound), tell them today is your day, this is your day you Libyan eagles. This is your day O free people! This is your day O martyrs! Avenge your martyrs, and tell this corrupt person: GO OUT! Tell this tyrant: ENOUGH! 42 years, every mother is crying over her child, and every sister is crying over her orphaned children. Tell them to go out, the day of Friday is the day of your gathering, the day of the free, we will write a banner on Libya: Oh my free country, oh my country that has been watered with the blood of Libyans. How beautiful is the scent of my country.
Here are some reactions to the planned Friday events on Twitter:
@IbnOmar2005: tomorrow there will be a lot of people killed marching for freedom. please keep #libya in your prayers
@ChangeInLibya: WE MUST END THIS #TOMORROW #FRIDAY or else we risk another #SOMALIA… GO OUT AND GET YOUR FREEDOM #TRIPOLI #libya #feb17
@libyafidammi: Reports that internet is down in #Tripoli tonight. Tomorrow, big Friday prayers and protests planned. Coincidence? #Libya
@IbnOmar2005: tomorrow there will be a lot of people killed marching for freedom. please keep #libya in your prayers
@ChangeInLibya: WE MUST END THIS #TOMORROW #FRIDAY or else we risk another #SOMALIA… GO OUT AND GET YOUR FREEDOM #TRIPOLI #libya #feb17
@libyafidammi: Reports that internet is down in #Tripoli tonight. Tomorrow, big Friday prayers and protests planned. Coincidence? #Libya
@Libyus: Libyans are incredible in their resistance & determination. May tomorrow be a Glorious Friday #Libya #Feb17
@libyansrevolt: expecting further protests after Friday prayers tomorrow to be met brutally by regime. ‘We will win or we will die’ #libya #feb17
@hhamze: Its almost #Friday, the day every stupid #dictator hates #iraq #libya
@NorthCup: CONFIRMED: Big mosques closed in #Tripoli for Friday prayers #libya #feb17 / @SmithSofia @LibyaInMe
@Jnoubiyeh: Muammar #Gaddafi-loyalist forces are conducting a huge kidnapping campaign across #Tripoli to intimidate #Libyan protesters. #Libya #Feb17
@: #Tripoli will be in a state of siege tonight as fears grow over any unrest likely after Friday prayers. #Libya
@iyad_elbaghdadi: Now in Tripoli, esp. in Tajura, they're telling people not to head to Friday prayers and protest, otherwise they'll “get hurt”. #Libya
@maqam: #Feb17 Revolution now enters it's 17th day in #Libya. Today [Friday local time] mass demonstrations are planned in… http://fb.me/BJLOOrgz
@libyafidammi: Hope that Friday's protests in #Libya will bring the outcome we are all waiting for…the downfall of the #Gaddafi regime. Come on #Tripoli
@FreeLibyan87: Tomorrow is the resillience Friday all people in Libya are planning to go out All ppl gather ur courage and STAND against this TYRANT #Libya
@Shoruk_K: Every Arab will see liberation on a Friday #Tunisia #Egypt #Libya
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.