Human Rights Watch call Libya to release political prisoners
Libya, Politics, 1/26/2006

Human rights Watch organization considered that Libya has made progress in the field of human rights, but said that Libya does not show enough will to make political reforms in the country.

The organization said after its first visit to Libya in the spring of 2005, that lasted for three weeks, that Libya "has been witnessing a gradual change after years of repression and international isolation."

The organization numbered among the "positive" measures that permitting of political refugees to return back to the country without threats of legal measures and giving more independence to the judiciary.

Human Rights Watch also considered that the permission given by the Libyan government to international human rights organizations to visit the country after years of banning as a positive indicator.

On the other hand, the organization expressed regret over the prevention of the wide spread security forces to have meeting with Libyans and stressed that the Libyan regime does not permit any criticism, noting that "those who criticize the government are detained, and mostly tortured."

In its report, the organization called for the release of 131 political prisoners including 86 Muslim Brothers members detained since 1998 because they carried out "anti" revolution activities in 1969 which brought the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi to power.

The report, in particular indicated that the most famous political prisoners for it, Fatehi al-Jahmi (64 year old), a former local official that called for the freedom of the media and for holding elections. Jahmi has been detained since March 2004 because he criticized in the open the Libyan leader.

The report quoted one official in the internal security department Col. Tuhami Khaled as saying that detention of Muslim Brothers members is a preventive measure.

Human Rights Watch spoke of the security establishments of the Libyan government acting without judicial restraints, and surveillance which are imposed by the security forces on people, and torture operations which are considered, according to the Libyan law, as a crime.

The report said that "15 among 32 prisoners said they were tortured during their interrogation."

Previous Stories:
  Libya: journalist sentenced to prison   (11/4/2005)
  Libyan opposition rejects foreign military support to topple Qathafi   (6/28/2005)
  Libyan opposition conference wants Qathafi out   (6/27/2005)
  Libyan Muslim Brothers boycott Libyan opposition conference in London   (6/25/2005)

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