Prisoner abuse ‘widespread’ under Libya’s new rulers
Amnesty calls for Libya’s interim authorities to stamp out torture of detainees and arbitrary detention, after uncovering evidence of prisoner mistreatment.
A report by the human rights organisation has revealed evidence of torture to extract confessions from captured pro-Gaddafi prisoners.
Libya’s new ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) said the council pledged to look into the report.
The report comes as the NTC tightens its grip on the Libyan city of Sirte, Muammer Gaddafi’s last stronghold.
Since late August, armed Libyan militia have arrested and detained 2,500 people in Tripoli and al-Zawiya. Amnesty researchers visited 11 detention facilities in these areas and interviewed 300 prisoners.
None of the prisoners had been shown an arrest warrant and many were abducted from their homes by unidentified captors. In the majority of cases, detainees were held without legal charge and often out of sight of the Ministry of Justice.
Sub-Saharan Africans and black Libyans, especially from the Tawargha region, are suspected by Amnesty of being particularly targeted.
Evidence of torture
In its report, Detention Abuses Staining the New Libya, Amnesty said there is clear evidence of torture. In one detention centre, researchers found a wooden stick and rope, and a rubber hose that could be used to beat detainees.
In another centre, they heard the sound of whipping and screams from a nearby cell. At least two guards admitted to Amnesty that they beat detainees to get them to speak.
Amnesty called on the new ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) to crack down on widespread torture and abuse in detention centres, before such incidents “stain” the new Libya’s human rights record.
“We understand that the transitional authorities are facing many challenges, but if they do not make a clear break with the past now, they will effectively be sending out a message that treating detainees like this is to be tolerated in the new Libya,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director.
An NTC spokesman said: “(NTC Chairman) Mustafa Abdel Jalil has said time and time again that he will not tolerate abuse of prisoners and has made it abundantly clear that he will investigate any such allegations.”