“Every day people are dying because of a man and his desire to stay in power,” Muftah said. “It’s crazy.”

More than 40 Libyan students were enrolled at MSU as of August.

About 19 are part of the Visiting International Professional Program, or VIPP, which previously was funded by Gaddafi’s government, university spokesman Kent Cassella said.

When the government cut their scholarships, many faced the possibility of returning to a country marked by violent uprising.

Ahmed Ghanbi, a participant in the VIPP, has been waiting for months for the transitional government to reinstate his scholarship.

Once the violence quells and he finishes his education, he’ll return to a changed country.
“I’m still worried but not much,” Ghanbi said. “Now, I feel better than (I have) in the last year, last week and last month.”

A transitional government was put in place to lead the country earlier this year as the Arab Spring in the region gained momentum. Rebels later searched for Gaddafi, who went into hiding in August as their movement gained strength, said Salah Hassan, associate professor of English and a core faculty member in the Muslim Studies Program.

Now that the threat of an attempt to return to power by Gaddafi is gone, Libyans can begin establishing a permanent government, Hassan said.

“This will be the end of the rebel movement,” he said. “Now, (they will) try to reign in various forces that mobilized against Gaddafi and put in order a governing body moving away from transitional council.”

For Ghanbi, Gaddafi’s death is another step toward freeing his homeland.

“I hope Libya (will) be free,” Ghanbi said. “We want to build Libya — we want Libya to be a good and nice (country).”

Still, the end of Gaddafi does not necessarily mean freedom for Libyans, Hassan said.

“It’s premature to say the rebel movement, … NATO or other foreign influence is going to be able to guarantee freedom in Libya,” he said. “It’ll be a long process, a process that will take years.”

No MSU students are studying abroad in Libya, but the work between the university and the transitional government might pave the way for a program once the new government has been established, Dean of International Studies and Programs Jeff Riedinger said.

Although Muftah is looking forward to returning to Libya and helping shape the new government, he realizes there are challenges in instituting a democracy after years of oppression.

“We’re not delusional; it will be a difficult road ahead,” Muftah said. “We’ve never gotten a free election — it’s a new experience.”

Despite the challenges ahead, Muftah remains hopeful that Libya’s future now is brighter.

“We are gathering to celebrate the closing of a sad chapter and the beginning of a happy one,” Muftah said.