Khalifa Kaddafi, a charity worker and prominent member of Aberdeen’s Muslim community, has died suddenly aged 49.
The father of four took ill in a city street on Friday, May 13, and died shortly after at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The death of the popular engineer has shocked and saddened those in the three mosques in which he was involved, and the wider community.
Funeral
An estimated 500 people from as far away as London, Sheffield, Leicester, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow and Aberdeen attended Khalifa’s funeral at Aberdeen’s Alhikmah mosque, which was led by Imam Ibrahim Al Wawi.
Khalifa had played a major part in the life of the city for about two decades and the Muslim community has established a GoFundMe page to provide support to his family.
He was born in Benghazi in Libya in January 1973.
University
Khalifa was educated at primary and secondary level in the city before going on to study engineering at the University of Benghazi.
Around 2002, he moved to Scotland to undertake post-graduate studies.
Khalifa enrolled first at Robert Gordon University to gain further engineering qualifications, and then at Aberdeen University.
Offshore
He then embarked on a career in the oil and gas industry, working offshore for many years.
During a downturn offshore, Khalifa was made redundant and then began to devote time volunteering with the charity Libyan Helping Hands, which was set up in 2011 to help those displaced by the war in Libya.
Assistance
It helps refugees, sponsors families and provides aid to the poor, orphans and those requiring medical treatment in Libya.
Khalifa returned to PhD studies at Aberdeen University while working part-time there as a librarian.
Leader
He was a member of the management team and a volunteer at Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre, and a volunteer at the newer Alhikmah mosque in Nelson Street in Aberdeen.
Khalifa was married to Eman Marghani.
His friend, Dr Omran Al-Mahtot, said: “We would like to thank all people in Aberdeen and other cities for their support to Khalifa’s family during these difficult times.
“The management team of the Libyan Helping Hands charity and the Muslim community of Aberdeen, wish to express sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Khalifa Kaddafi.
Tribute
“Mr Kaddafi was a very active member of the Muslim community of Aberdeen and the wider community. He was a kind, friendly, pleasant, and caring person. He was very generous and proactive towards humanitarian causes and projects.
“The sadness and grief of the heart is very deep for his family and friends, but the only solace is to remember: ‘We belong to Allah (God) and to Him we shall return’.”
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