Libyan Americans

Libyan Americans

Languages
American English, Libyan Arabic
Religion
Islam, Judaism

Libyan Americans (Template:Lang-ar) are American citizens of Libyan descent. Libyan Americans are the smallest group of Arab Americans, according to the Arab American Institute. Most Libyans came to the United States to escape Muammar Gaddafi's Libya.

Most Libyan Americans speak Arabic, English and a small number also speak Italian due to Libya's 1911–1943 period as an Italian colony. There are an estimated 9,000 Libyans living in the United States as of 2010 U.S. census. Most Libyan Americans immigrated from the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi. Libyan Americans are considered to be North African, Arab, and Middle Eastern Americans.

Some Libyan American associations are the Libyan American Organization, Libyan American Friendship Association (LAFA) and Libyan American Association in Southern California.

The Libyan American Organization have as goal the Libya defense, promote political awareness among its members and integrate to all community in the association. In addition, the organization wants to improve education, health care and infrastructure of Libya. The association hopes to have the community support in order to "rebuilding our beloved country".

Libyan American Friendship Association (LAFA) have as goal promote friendship between the Libyan and U.S., making dialogue the two peoples by holding international meetings and symposia, for the creation of programs and projects that help both peoples to establish ties. The organization celebrates coordinate visits between institutions of "economic, social, scientific and national / civil joint."

External links

• The American-Libyan Council
• The American Prospect: Libyan Americans Hold a Vigil