When Justice Nurtures the Mind: Libya’s Prosecutor General Revives the Spirit of Culture

Ashraf AboArafe

After a decade of cultural stagnation, Libya’s capital, Tripoli, is witnessing a remarkable renaissance — one that rekindles the flame of intellect and art through the inspiring vision of Prosecutor General Counselor Al-Siddiq Ahmed Al-Sour. His initiatives reflect a belief that justice is not only a matter of law, but also a vessel for knowledge, awareness, and enlightenment.

Through the Criminal Research and Training Center under the Public Prosecution Office, a series of pioneering cultural and scientific activities have been launched, aiming to spread legal awareness and elevate public consciousness. This marks the first such initiative in more than ten years, positioning the Public Prosecution as a dynamic contributor to Libya’s intellectual revival.

Observers note that this new vision redefines the role of the Libyan Public Prosecution — expanding beyond its judicial duties to embrace a broader mission: building the human mind, fostering enlightened thought, and strengthening the values of justice through culture.

This vision found its most vivid expression in the Second International Public Prosecution Book Fair, an event affirming that culture is a cornerstone of state-building, and that justice reaches its true form only when nourished by knowledge and human values.

Through this renewed movement, Counselor Al-Sour and the Public Prosecution Office breathe life into the cultural and institutional role of justice in Libya — sending a hopeful message that culture can be a genuine partner in reform, enlightenment, and national renewal.

The Prosecutor General of Libya, Counselor Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, inaugurated the second edition of the International Public Prosecution Book Fair, held at the Tripoli International Fairgrounds, which continues until October 25.

This year’s edition features a distinguished Arab and African presence, along with broad international participation. The opening ceremony was attended by official delegations from several Arab countries, representatives of the League of Arab States, senior diplomats, writers, and intellectuals from across the region.

Among the attendees were Eng. Issam Al-Aoul, Chairman of the General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences; Mr. Islam Jaafar, General Manager of Tripoli International Fair; Mr. Shukri Al-Taif, Deputy Director General; as well as members of the Supreme Judicial Council, diplomats, ambassadors, international organizations, and a vibrant group of authors, thinkers, and media professionals — all united under the message that justice and culture walk hand in hand.

Organized under the patronage of the Office of the Prosecutor General, through the Criminal Research and Training Center, and supervised by the General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences, the fair stands as one of Libya’s and the region’s most prominent cultural events.

With over 425 publishing houses from 22 Arab and African countries, and international publishers displaying 170,000 books across diverse fields — from law and literature to poetry, jurisprudence, and the humanities — the event highlights Libya’s reemergence as a cultural hub.

The fair’s program includes book signings, dialogue sessions, and workshops designed for readers and culture enthusiasts, as well as special lectures on constitutional culture and the role of legal awareness in supporting national institutions — reaffirming the Public Prosecution’s commitment to promoting Arab legal culture and the principles of justice and the rule of law.