Sat, 12 Dec 2009
Tripoli - Human Rights Watch has noticed "pockets of improvements" in Libya but they are taking place in a still "repressive atmosphere," the group said Saturday. Among the changes the rights watchdog spotted were "expanded freedom of expression." However, laws continued to stifle speech and abuses by security forces were the "norm," it added.
As part of the opening up, the rights group said it was able to hold a press conference in the Libyan capital for the first time.
"A public assessment of Libya's human rights record in Tripoli would have been unthinkable a few years ago and reflects the expanded space for public discussion in Libya," Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East program director at the watchdog, said in a statement.
The group was releasing a 78-page report entitled Libya: Truth and Justice Can't Wait, which was based on monitoring conducted outside the country.
On the issue of unlawful detention, the report noted apparent conflicts between the Justice Ministry and the security forces, which were said to operate with "impunity," capable of arresting people without warrants.
"Efforts by the Justice Ministry to address cases of unjustly imprisoned detainees are an important step in the right direction, but every Libyan knows that true reform in the country will not be possible so long as the Internal Security Agency remains above the law," according to Whitson.
The report also noted the cases of two Swiss men who have not been allowed to leave Libya since June 2008 on what are officially visa violations, but appears to be the result of a diplomatic war between Tripoli and Bern.
Human Rights Watch called for a reform of the legal system and penal code to allow for greater freedoms.
Tripoli - Human Rights Watch has noticed "pockets of improvements" in Libya but they are taking place in a still "repressive atmosphere," the group said Saturday. Among the changes the rights watchdog spotted were "expanded freedom of expression." However, laws continued to stifle speech and abuses by security forces were the "norm," it added.
As part of the opening up, the rights group said it was able to hold a press conference in the Libyan capital for the first time.
"A public assessment of Libya's human rights record in Tripoli would have been unthinkable a few years ago and reflects the expanded space for public discussion in Libya," Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East program director at the watchdog, said in a statement.
The group was releasing a 78-page report entitled Libya: Truth and Justice Can't Wait, which was based on monitoring conducted outside the country.
On the issue of unlawful detention, the report noted apparent conflicts between the Justice Ministry and the security forces, which were said to operate with "impunity," capable of arresting people without warrants.
"Efforts by the Justice Ministry to address cases of unjustly imprisoned detainees are an important step in the right direction, but every Libyan knows that true reform in the country will not be possible so long as the Internal Security Agency remains above the law," according to Whitson.
The report also noted the cases of two Swiss men who have not been allowed to leave Libya since June 2008 on what are officially visa violations, but appears to be the result of a diplomatic war between Tripoli and Bern.
Human Rights Watch called for a reform of the legal system and penal code to allow for greater freedoms.
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