Libya / United Nations / Arbitrary Imprisonment / Torture

"Libya's former rebels are holding thousands of people in makeshift detention centres, the UN says." (Ciro Fusco/EPA)

Libyan Rebels Detaining Thousands Illegally, Ban Ki-moon Reports
The Guardian, November 24, 2011
"Libya's former rebels have illegally detained thousands of people, including women and children, according to the United Nations secretary general. Many of the 7,000 prisoners have been tortured, with some black Africans mistreated because of their skin colour, women being held under male supervision and children locked up alongside adults, the report by Ban Ki-moon found. The report, due to be published on Monday, presents a grim assessment of Libya following the civil war, with many prisoners held in private jails not under the control of the interim government and denied access to due legal process. The UN chief said: 'While prisoners held by the Gaddafi regime had been released, an estimated 7,000 detainees are currently held in prisons and makeshift detention centres, most of which are under the control of revolutionary brigades.' Prisoners had 'no access to due process in the absence of a functioning police and judiciary', he added. Most courts were 'not fully operational' due to a lack of security and a reduction in the number of judges and administrative staff. Ban said that sub-Saharan Africans accounted for many of the detainees, while members of Libya's Tawerga community had faced reprisals, including revenge killings, for their role in attacks by Gaddafi forces on the city of Misrata. While Gaddafi employed some fighters from neighbouring countries as mercenaries, other Africans worked in civilian jobs in the oil-rich North African country. Human rights groups claim that some rebels made no distinction between the two. The report raised concern about 'disturbing reports' that war crimes had been committed by the rebels and former government forces in Sirte, where deposed dictator Muammar Gaddafi was captured and killed last month. UN officials have called on Libyans to respect human rights and refrain from revenge attacks after months of fierce fighting between rebels and Gaddafi loyalists. [...]"