About Gaddafi's Amazonian Guard

The Amazonian Guard is an elite group of 30-40 (reports differ) virginal women who are tasked with protecting the leader of Libya, Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Candidates for the Amazonian Guard undergo extensive firearms and martial arts training at a special academy and must be hand picked by Gaddafi himself. Members of this elite group are allowed privileges not deemed acceptable in the Muslim world, such as dressing in Western-style fatigues and wearing makeup, or displaying Western hair styles and high heels.

The existence of this elite group has created controversy as it challenges the role of women in the Muslim world.

Other

The Amazonian Guard is a name to an all-female elite cadre of bodyguards tasked with protecting the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. They are also known as the Revolutionary Nuns and the Green Nuns, according to Wikipedia.

The group was formed in the early 1980s, after Gaddafi's official resignation as Libyan head of state in favor of the title of "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya".

Gaddafi reportedly employed a cadre of female bodyguards because he believed that an Arab gunman would have difficulty firing at women.

Candidates for the Amazonian Guard undergo extensive firearms and martial arts training at a special academy. Members of this bodyguard are allowed privileges such as dressing in Western-style fatigues and wearing makeup, or displaying Western hair styles and high heels.

• All the female members of Muammar Gaddafi bodyguards are virgins and take a vow of chastity when becoming official bodyguards.
• All of his girls are said to swear an oath that they will give their lives for him and it is claimed they never leave his side, day or night.
• All the women in his neighborhood are trained killers and Gaddafi personally selected all of them.
• All Gaddafi girls may have lipstick, wear necklaces and rings, may have painted nails and can even walk on high heels.
• Rumors persist that Gaddafi demands "sexual favors" of his guards, but other rumors contend that they must remain chaste throughout their years of service.
• Gaddafi believes it is empowering for women to be his bodyguards. He says, "Women should be trained for combat, so that they do not become easy prey for their enemies."