No Result
View All Result
Saturday, July 12, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

Melinda Taylor and ICC team freed in Zintan

byGeorge Grant
May 24, 2016
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Melinda Taylor and ICC team freed in Zintan

Investigations into the actions of Melinda Taylor (R) and Helene Assaf (L) are now being launched by the Libyan government and the ICC. Photograph: George Grant

By George Grant.

Zintan, 2 July 2012:

Investigations into the actions of Melinda Taylor (R) and Helene Assaf (L) are now being undertaken by the government and the ICC. Photograph: George Grant

The detained Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor was released from captivity in Zintan today, along with three other International Criminal . . .[restrict]Court representatives held in the town for the past three weeks.

ICC President Sang-Hyun Song, who was only informed of the decision yesterday, flew into Tripoli this morning to be present in Zintan for the announcement.

“I wish to apologise for the difficulties resulting from this train of events”, Sang said. “The information reported by the Libyan
authorities will be fully investigated in accordance with ICC procedures following the return of the four staff members to The Hague”.

RELATED POSTS

Spanish visiting medical team perform joint operations in Beida, US-based consultant visiting in Zintan

Implementation of Zintan Free Zone and exhibitions centre ongoing

Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdul Aziz announced that a trial would also be held in Libya on 23 July, although the accused would not themselves be present at the hearing.

Taylor was arrested in Zintan on 7 June, suspected of attempting to smuggle “dangerous” documents to Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi, for whom she is acting as a defence representative.

Amongst the documents were said to be letters from Saif’s fugitive former right-hand man, Mohammed Ismail, with whom the government believes Taylor has been in contact.

Blank letters marked only with Saif’s signature were also said to have been found on the lawyer, as well as a note in which he complained of
mistreatment at the hands of his captors and the absence of the rule of law in Libya.

Taylor’s Lebanese interpreter, Helene Assaf, was said to have been found in possession of a “spy camera”.

Ajme Al-Ettery, the commander of the brigade that arrested the ICC team, struck a combative note when he hinted at direct complicity between Taylor and Mohammed Ismail.

“We were expecting there would be some entities who would like to help Saif Qaddafi escape from Zintan, the militiaman said. “But it is very regrettable that this has been done through members of the ICC”.

Dressed in black robes and headscarves, both Taylor and Assaf appeared nervous and overwhelmed as they were led first to lunch in the midst of a throng of waiting journalists, and then to their vehicles.

None of the newly-released ICC team were permitted to answer questions, with both the Libyan authorities and the ICC insisting that the substance of the allegations would be directly addressed in their respective investigations.

The events of the past three weeks have placed considerable strain on the relationship between the government and the ICC, at a time
when the two are still negotiating where and by whom Saif Qaddafi should be tried.

Under UN Security Council resolution 1970, the ICC has been mandated to investigate and prosecute Saif for crimes committed during last year’s uprising against the Qaddafi regime.

The Libyan government has argued that this mandate should now be revoked and that the dictator’s son should be tried inside Libya and according to Libyan law.

The ICC has said it must be sure that Saif will receive a free and fair trial in Libya before granting its consent, and the court appears to now be moving in that direction.

On 1 June, the ICC postponed its request that Libya hand Saif over to them for trial pending its final determination of whether the conditions required to hold a fair trial inside the country have been met.

On 22 June, the ICC issued a statement in which it declared itself  “ready to assist national authorities with their investigations if requests are submitted to the Court. The ICC is committed to continued mutual cooperation with the Libyan authorities and will do everything it can to assist them.”

[/restrict]

Tags: featuredICCLibyaMelinda TaylorSang-Hyun SongZintan

Related Posts

Attorney General orders arrests at Jumhouria bank branch for embezzlement
Libya

Attorney General provides update on investigation of incidents resulting from Tripoli 2025 armed clashes and demonstrations

July 11, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Aldabaiba seeking long term partnership not interim solutions on combatting irregular migration

July 10, 2025
Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi taking steps to counter forged ID numbers and passports
Libya

There are 4 million irregular migrants in Libya: Interior Minister Trabelsi

July 10, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Aldabaiba: Militias have become criminal gangs and a state within the state

July 9, 2025
Libya Herald exclusive: Responding to the prime minister’s call yesterday to the private sector and banks to do more, leading businessman Husni Bey responds
Business

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

July 2, 2025
Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg
Libya

Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg

June 27, 2025
Next Post

Kufra again quiet as army takes up positions

“Independent” individual candidate campaigns with backing of Justice & Construction Party

"Independent" individual candidate campaigns with backing of Justice & Construction Party

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Benghazi port receives 398 containers of mixed goods, 25,000 tons of wheat, 28,500 tons of barley and 6,000 tons of cement

    All imports into Libya must be paid for through official bank transactions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • BP to reopen office in Libya, Shell discusses prospects for cooperation in oil field development‎

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund signs contract with Turkey’s Ankamenia for maintenance of Benghazi University’s medical colleges

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libyan olive oils win gold at Anatolian, Berlin and Japan 2025 international olive oil competitions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

CBL workshop on ‎”The Role of the Banking Sector in Revitalising Stalled Housing Projects and Urban Development”‎ to be held in Tripoli on 13 July

Attorney General provides update on investigation of incidents resulting from Tripoli 2025 armed clashes and demonstrations

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.