The Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade was an Islamist militia that advocated for the implementation of Sharia law within

Derna, Libya Derna (; ar, درنة ') is a port city in eastern Libya. It has a population of 85,000–90,000. It was the seat of one of the wealthiest provinces in the Barbary States, and remains the capital of the Derna District, with a much smaller area. ...

. The group was known for enforcing strict social rules in the city.

Background

The Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade was created by former

Libyan Islamic Fighting Group The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), also known as ''Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya'' ( ar, الجماعة الإسلامية المقاتلة بليبيا), was an armed Islamist group. Militants participated in the 2011 Lib ...

member Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi. Following the

Libyan Civil War Demographics of Libya is the demography of Libya, specifically covering population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, and religious affiliations, as well as other aspects of the Libyan population. The ...

, the brigade was taken over by Salim Derby. In 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Libya took over much of Derna. Abu Salim and ISIL repeatedly clashed in the following months in disputes over power and resources. Derby was killed in fighting with ISIL militants in June 2015.

References

{{reflist Islamism in Libya Jihadist groups in Libya Derna, Libya