UK Foreign Minister makes “Dead Bodies” joke, angers Libyans

“British businesses wanted to invest in the city of Sirte. They have got a brilliant vision to turn Sirte into the next Dubai,” he told Conservatives attending the party’s annual conference in Manchester, talking up its “bone-white sands, beautiful sea” and “brilliant young people”.

However, his sarcasm fell short not only to the Libyan people but also to the British.

Johnson comments were denounced by a wave of criticism on social media in Libya. They were also criticized by the UK lawmakers.

Johnson’s comments were slammed by shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry.

“For Boris Johnson to treat those deaths as a joke — a mere inconvenience before UK business people can turn the city into a beach resort — is unbelievably crass, callous and cruel,” said Thornberry, a Labour MP.

“There comes a time when the buffoonery needs to stop, because if Boris Johnson thinks the bodies of those brave government soldiers and innocent civilians killed in Sirte are a suitable subject for throwaway humour, he does not belong in the office of foreign secretary,” she added.

Johnson visited Libya last August and met with officials from east and west of the country.

LISTEN: @BorisJohnson has suggested parts of Libya could be the next Dubai “if they clear the dead bodies away” at a #CPC17 fringe event. pic.twitter.com/zRtFyK8Z6g

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) October 3, 2017