Gaddafi's female bodyguards

bodyguard in April 2000 (Pic: Getty Images)

Frequently pictured with Gaddafi, in heavy make-up and military fatigues, the dictator’s female bodyguards have become synonymous with his political reign.

The women, dubbed Amazonian guards in Europe and Haris al-Has in Africa, were an army of virgins, believed to have taken a vow of chastity and pledged their lives to protect their leader.

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

The women accompanied Gaddafi wherever he went, remaining by his side day and night. Even as Tripoli fell and the tyrant fled Libya, he is believed to have been guarded by 40 of his women warriors.

Gaddafi's Amazonian Guards watch over him

And his dedicated female followers have prove that that they are prepared to die to protect their leader.

In 1998, one female guard, believed to be his favourite, was killed and seven others injured when Islamic fundamentalists ambushed the dictator’s motorcade.

It is claimed the dead woman, known as Aisha, threw herself across Gaddafi’s body to shield him from the bullets.

It is thought Gaddafi chose to employ a cadre of all-female bodyguards because he feared men would be too easily distracted and an Arab male would have difficulty firing at women.

Despite proclaiming himself as an ‘Islamic pioneer’, Gaddafi insisted that the women, all trained killers, wore high heels, jewellery, make-up and nail polish.

The women followed Gaddafi wherever he went

It is also believed that the tyrant, despite insisting that the women were chaste, demanded sexual favours from the women.

Earlier this year, in the midst of the Libyan civil war, five members of the Amazonian guard accused Gaddafi and senior members of his regime, including his sons, of rape and abuse.

Teenage guard Nisrine Gheriyanih, who claims she was raped at the leader’s headquarters in Tripoli, said: “They would come and take us by the hand and walk is down the corridor.

“We knew what would happen.”

The 19-year-old spoke to the Guardian while being held prisoner after being captured by Gaddafi forces.

Yet, despite the reported abuse and mistreatment, Gaddafi always maintained that he was “empowering” women.

He said:” “Women should be trained for combat, so that they do not become easy prey for their enemies.”