Ansar al-Sharia in Libya ( ASL , , English : Supporters of Islamic Law ) was a Salafist Islamist militia group that advocated the implementation of strict Sharia law across Libya . Ansar al-Sharia came into being in 2011 , during the Libyan Civil War . Until January 2015 , it was led by its " Amir " , Muhammad al-Zahawi . As part of its strategy , the organization targeted specific Libyan and American civilians for death and took part in the 2012 Benghazi attack . The group was designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations , Turkey , the UAE , the United Kingdom , and the United States
2012 Benghazi attack
2012 Benghazi attack
Ansar al-Sharia (Libya)