Tripoli, 8 October 2013:
The seizure of Nazih Al-Ruqaii (alias Abu Anas Al-Libi) violates . . .[restrict]human rights and undermines the rule of law, human rights NGO Amnesty International has said.
“The USA has again used its flawed ‘global war’ theory to violate fundamental human rights principles, this time to carry out the abduction of Libyan national Ruqaii,” Amnesty said.
Ruquii was seized outside his home early Sunday morning. It is believed that he was taken either by American forces or a group of Libyans operating on behalf of the Americans. He had been on the USA’s most wanted list of terrorism suspects for 15 years accused of involvement in the bombing of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
US Secretary of State John Kerry defended the capture yesterday, saying Ruquii was a “legal and appropriate” target. The Pentagon said that he was being “lawfully detained by the US military in a secure location outside Libya” and several newspapers, including the New York Times, suggested that Ruqaii was being questioned on a Navy ship stationed in the Mediterranean.
Amnesty said that the US government should immediately “confirm his whereabouts and provide him access to legal counsel, medical care and family members.” [/restrict]
