Passion or Profession: National Hero

Period: c. 1860–1931

Al-Mukhtar was a leader in the Sanusi resistance movement against Italian occupation. From 1923 to 1931, he helped organize the efforts of guerrilla fighters who would take cover in the mountainous areas of Cyrenaica and then descend to attack Italian soldiers. His actions earned him the title “The Lion of the Desert,” but he was eventually captured by Italian forces. Although he was more than 70 years old, he was publicly hanged for his role in the insurgency.