UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday urged Libya to release two Swiss nationals entangled in a diplomatic row, a week after Tripoli sentenced the pair to 16 months in jail.
Pillay said Tuesday that Libya had violated the basic rights of the Swiss men by preventing them to return to their countries without any explanation.
The two businessmen have been barred from leaving the country since July 2008, when Geneva police arrested Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi's son following complaints of mistreatment from his servants.
Pillay regretted that the two were unfairly made victims of the 16-months-long political dispute between the two countries.
Last week, Libyan authorities handed the two a 16-month jail sentence for visa offences but currently remain in the Swiss Embassy in Tripoli.
Following a controversial public apology from Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz, the two were lured out of the embassy in mid-September with a government promise to allow their departure, but were seized and taken to an undisclosed location.
A day after the court ruling, Merz hinted that the Libyan sentencing would ease arriving at resolution through legal channels.
An internationally condemned Swiss vote banning the building of minarets in the country reignited Qaddafi eccentric temper over the weekend. He said the ban has played into the hands of terrorists such as al-Qaeda, who would be able to 'justify' an attack on Europe.
Qaddafi cut oil supplies to the country and withdrew billions of dollars from Swiss banks following his son's arrest.
Pillay said Tuesday that Libya had violated the basic rights of the Swiss men by preventing them to return to their countries without any explanation.
The two businessmen have been barred from leaving the country since July 2008, when Geneva police arrested Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi's son following complaints of mistreatment from his servants.
Pillay regretted that the two were unfairly made victims of the 16-months-long political dispute between the two countries.
Last week, Libyan authorities handed the two a 16-month jail sentence for visa offences but currently remain in the Swiss Embassy in Tripoli.
Following a controversial public apology from Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz, the two were lured out of the embassy in mid-September with a government promise to allow their departure, but were seized and taken to an undisclosed location.
A day after the court ruling, Merz hinted that the Libyan sentencing would ease arriving at resolution through legal channels.
An internationally condemned Swiss vote banning the building of minarets in the country reignited Qaddafi eccentric temper over the weekend. He said the ban has played into the hands of terrorists such as al-Qaeda, who would be able to 'justify' an attack on Europe.
Qaddafi cut oil supplies to the country and withdrew billions of dollars from Swiss banks following his son's arrest.
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