By Libya Herald staff.
25 December 2014:
The Supreme Court has adjourned its consideration of appeals against the Political Isolation Law, approved by . . .[restrict]the General National Congress in May 2013. According to Beida offices of the Libyan new agency LANA, the court’s Constitutional Chamber says it will look at the issue again on 22 February.
The controversial law has been challenged by a number of groups and individuals over the past year and a half — both national and international. In June 2013, former UN Special Envoy to Libya Tarek Mitri called it unjust.
A year ago, the Libyan National Council for Human Rights and Civil Liberties announced it was launching an appeal against the law on the basis that parts of it infringed the rights of many Libyans and contravened the August 2011 Constitutional Declaration. Other activist groups are challenging it on the basis that it was passed under duress.
This is not the first time the court had pulled back from issuing a decision on the appeals. Six months ago, it refused to give a verdict saying that the presence outside the Supreme Court building of armed protestors opposed to any change in the law constituted a threat to the judges.
The latest postponement is seen as a sign of their continued unwillingness to address the matter while militias firmly in favour of the law remain in control of the capital.
The House of Representatives in Beida, however, is expected to produce its own amendment to the law shortly. Changes are currently under consideration by the HoR’s legislation committee. However, there is no chance that amendment by the HoR will be accepted by those in power in the capital. [/restrict]
