In 2011, the regime of long-time Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown. Having fled Benghazi, his capital, Gaddafi was on the run and hiding in a drainpipe when the rebels found him in his home city of Sirte some 300 miles to the west of the capital. A Day in History recently covered the death of Gaddafi and the viciousness of his regime, but suffice it to say that the unpopular Gaddafi was beaten within an inch of his life and then executed with one of his gold-plated pistols.
Not with him were his former constant companions and personal guard known officially as the “Revolutionary Nuns.” Yes, nuns. They also had an unofficial name: “Gaddafi’s Amazons,” after the mythological female Greek warriors. Though many people believed that the Amazons were only for show – and they certainly attracted attention when Gaddafi traveled abroad – most of the women in the unit were well-trained in martial arts and an international assortment of firearms.
Gaddafi wasn’t the only casualty among the ruling elite of Libya to die in the uprising of 2011. Two of his sons, Khamis and Mutassim, were killed in the uprising. Another brother, Saif was killed earlier in April in a NATO airstrike to prevent the regime from killing civilians in rebel-held areas.
Among the many casualties were dozens of the “Revolutionary Nuns”. Most of their casualties came in Benghazi and Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte. Contrary to what many believed might happen, a number of Amazons – likely dozens, died fighting the rebels alongside loyalist male units. A number of Amazons were able to escape to other countries, where a number of them still live – quiet unassuming lives of anonymity.
Despite Gaddafi’s stated commitment to a more equitable society for women, Libya was still a conservative Muslim country, and a number of rebel groups were thoroughly fundamentalist. Between hatred for everything the regime stood for and an ingrained belief that women should remain at home sequestered from male society, many captured Amazons were raped, beaten and otherwise humiliated. Many were beaten and some were beaten to death. Another number were shot out of hand and their bodies left to rot. A very far cry from the luxurious life they led under Gaddafi – a luxurious life that came with a cost.
#gadaffi #darkhistory #historydocumentary
Copyright © 2025 A Day In History. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: All materials in these videos are used for entertainment purposes and fall within the guidelines of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. If you are, or represent, the copyright owner of materials used in this video, and have an issue with the use of said material, please send an email to adayinhistory2021@gmail.com
