Bilal Bettamer is a 23-year-old student who wants to save Benghazi from those he calls "extremely dangerous people." But his campaign against the criminal and extremist groups that plague the city has put his life at risk, and he says that if he receives more threats, he will have to leave Libya. Libya can't afford to lose the likes of Bettamer. A law graduate and civil activist, he helped organize the protest against jihadist groups after the attack on the U.S. Consulate there in September, in which four Americans were killed. That protest led to the expulsion from Benghazi of the militant Ansar al-Sharia group -- whose members were suspected of involvement in the attack -- and other jihadists from the city.Law graduate Bilal Bettamer is trying to make Benghazi a safer, prosperous placeThreats may drive the 23-year-old civil activist from this troubled Libyan cityAssassinations, bombings and kidnappings keep progress at bayThe ghost of Moammar Gadhafi still hangs over Benghazi and rest of Libya
Bettamer says he received three hostile text messages after the _ Friday protest. A "religious-looking man" had approached _'s uncle outside their family home in Benghazi with a message for Bilal: "Tell him to watch out." A "religious-looking man" had approached Bettamer's uncle outside their family home in Benghazi with a message for _: "Tell him to watch out."