Yesterday my friend, and brother Eng Tawfiq AlZawy martyred in one of the city of Misurata Libya battles that took place there between al-Qadhafi and the volunteer fighters liberating the city.

Misrata has suffered for a period of over 50 days brutal and barbaric attacks from Gaddafi forces. Attacks that targeted civilians , families, foreign workers, Egyptians, Arabs,Indians and Africans. 

Engineer Tawfiq AlZawy I met him first in my early days I was in city of Benghazi. He used to show up to check our needs or ask us if we need to learn something, or anything.As a civil engineer he was always on the move, hated routine office work, constantly on the move, keeping alive the cause, however he did not forget that his family and family rights with the pace of events around him and his cause and events around it did not block him from doing the right thing. 

“We went out in a demonstration on February 17, after less than half an hour we were surprised by mercenaries shooting directly on us, feelings were mixed: mostly disbelief, we ran away, stumbled upon each other, many fell martyrs on the spot, some we did not find their bodies so far, Internal Security locked me up that day, torturing me as well as the dozens of those arrested that day” 

This was Eng. Tawfiq Zway demonstration experience in February 17, which triggered the revolution all over Libya. as he told it to me just after his release, after an exhausting and continuous torture and severe beatings, and injuries, he did not chose to go home and let time heal his wounds, but went to the court and then to the battalion, to support as much as possible in there, giving aid to his brothers who were facing death by live ammunition and anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. Until Allah freed by his will the Benghazi Battalion. 

Tawfiq, was optimistic, friendly, tolerant and social, nothing interrupted him from doing prayer on time, he was humble never stopped praying for forgiveness of his Lord for what ever deeds he did or not done! polite, smooth talker, did not curse nor insult anyone, even when if was angery. He was loved, and respected by everyone, and everyone knew not to upset him. 

Tawfik, when he learned that I was focusing all my attention on media coverage, gave all his time, resources and efforts to help me in this task, which was a heavy burden, then again supported us when the team began to expand with different skills, competencies, and experiences, he spared no time or effort in the way to provide comfort and expand our capabilities . 

On my first trip to Ajdabiya on Friday, I and the American journalist, “Claire Giles”, He accompanied us sacrificing his time, and efforts, espicially it was a family special day, instead of lunch with his family, he facilitated transport for us, and supplied us with his friends, resources, and relations, who helped us achieve our mission. did not complain about out longs delays in the hospital. he was always supportive asking if we still need more time, or need to move, or any thing else. 

Engineer: Tawfiq , The civil engineer,a well raised son of a fond mother, the husband to a sacrificing woman and father to a lovely a children. Children that will know and understand later that their father was a hero, silent defiant hero in Benghazi, A Brave lions of the Misurata martyrs. where he was always seen where people are needed the most and where the battle needed the brave men. he did not fear its risks nor its heat, he delved deep inside it. Was one of the first to ride a fishing boat toward Misurata with the early Mujahideen, helping people in their war against al-Gaddafi militias in the city, and trying his best to remove the atrocities that harmed them. 

God bless, and bestow mercy on the brother martyr Engineer: Tawfiq AlZawy, Bless his soul, May he rest in eternal peace with the martyrs, and heroes. May god too bestow his family and loved ones with patience, and purification of soul, May mother, brother , wife, and his children be inspired by the meanings of the sacrifice and martyrdom. 

Thank the mother who raised such a hero, thanks to the father who taught “Imran AlZawi,” and the woman who sacrificed, and Free Libya which gave birth to such examples.