By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 15 May 2015:
UNSMIL has today slammed the continuing kidnap, . . .[restrict]torture and murder of civilians and repeated the warning that these are prosecutable war crimes. It also reiterated that those who fail to prevent these crimes are also guilty.
With the breakdown of the criminal justice system and growing impunity in the country, said UNSMIL, victims and their families have few opportunities for redress.
“Those abducted are usually at risk of torture and other ill-treatment ” said UNSMIL “and are frequently denied any contact with their families. Some have died in custody, possibly summarily executed or tortured to death”.
The abductions of civilians, it said, are perpetrated against the backdrop of ongoing fighting, deepening political crisis, terrorist attacks, the spread of the so-called Islamic State and other extremist groups, lawlessness and the breakdown of the criminal justice system.
Those who have committed to the political dialogue process have stated that they would address the issue of abductions and illegal detentions, reminded UNSMIL. The agency called for the immediate release of all detainees being held on grounds of identity or opinion.
UNSMIL did point to positive developments such as the prisons swaps that have happened recently such as those between Zawia and Zintan and also between Misrata and Zintan.
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