The Ministry of Justice will investigate torture in Libyan jails and prosecute all offenders, says Justice Minister Ali Humaida Ashour.
Both Human Rights . . .[restrict]Watch and Amnesty International have alleged the continued abuse of detainees, while last month Médecins Sans Frontières closed its operations in detention centres in Misrata, claiming that prisoners had been tortured. However, it has continued its mental health support activities in schools and health facilities in the city.
As reported in Libya Herald, the most recent case to come to light was the torture and death of the former Libyan ambassador to France, Dr Omar Brebesh. The 62-year-old Brebesh went voluntarily to the Shohada Ashura militia at their base in the Crimea neighbourhood of Tripoli for investigation. Less than 24 hours later, he lay dead in a Zintan hospital morgue with horrific injuries that an autopsy concluded were the result of extensive torture.
Speaking at the formal handover to his officials of Ain Zara prison by a militia brigade Ali Humaida Ashour pledged: “We will investigate the charges of international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) about the torture of prisoners and everyone involved will be brought to justice”.
The continued and unregulated control of many prisons and detention centres by brigades has been seen as a major cause of abuse, with militiamen operating outside any legal framework. In some case they have been accused of pursuing personal vendettas or acting on hearsay evidence.
Ashour pointed out that a committee made up of officials from his ministry and the ministries of defence and the interior was working to take control of all prisons in the country. [/restrict]
