Amnesty International on release of Libyan prisoners of conscience
Libya, Politics, 9/28/2005

Amnesty International said yesterday that the recent release by the Libyan authorities of five long-term prisoners of conscience was an encouraging step, and raised hopes that other long-held prisoners of conscience will also soon be freed.

Amnesty International said: The five prisoners who were released on 10 and 11 September, Ramadan Shaglouf, Tariq al-Dernawi, Tawfiq al-Jehani, Ali Be'aou and Musa al-Ziwi, had all been held since 1998. They were serving prison terms up to life after being convicted of belonging to the Islamic Alliance Movement, a banned political group, but were considered prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International. While welcoming their releases, the organization expressed concern that the five were released reportedly only after pledging that they would not undertake any political activities, and called for this restriction to be lifted.

The recent releases follow increasing speculation that the Libyan authorities are preparing to release scores of other political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience. In particular, a committee established at the behest of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar al-Qathafi reportedly concluded recently that some 85 imprisoned members of the Libyan Islamic Group (also known as the Muslim Brothers) had neither used nor advocated violence and should be released. Many of them have been held since June 1998.

Amnesty International.. was particularly concerned about two other prisoners who are apparently held for peaceful expression of their opinions but who do not appear to be among those mooted for release, Fathi el-Jahmi and Abdurrazig al-Mansouri.

Previous Stories:
  Families of Libyan prisoners of opinion concerned   (9/6/2005)
  Libya to release 131 prisoners including Muslim Brothers   (8/22/2005)
  Libya accuses Saudi Arabia of organizing opposition conference in London   (7/2/2005)

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