Urgent Press Release
Over 20,000 people kidnapped in Libya are being held in inhuman conditions
Over 20,000 people have been kidnapped or arrested by Gaddafi’s security forces in Tripoli and the surrounding cities over the past 5 weeks. Many of these had been taken from their homes, their places of work or from the streets and comprise mainly of young men, although it is believed that a small proportion are also women. It is understood that some of the detainees have been accused by the Gaddafi regime of being activists involved mainly in contacting foreign media outlets and sending video footages. Others have merely been accused of participating in pro-democracy demonstrations or involved in anti-regime activities via social media tools such as Facebook.
According to prison guard sources within Tripoli, detainees have been crammed into Abu Saleem prison, Ein Zara Prison, the Police Academy, the former Tobacco factory in Tripoli and other various military camps across the city. The conditions under which they are being held are believed to be extremely harsh, inhumane and degrading. Prisoners are denied basic sanitary facilities, including showers and have been refused medical assistance even for the most critical of cases. Detainees have not been given any change of clothing and are forced to sleep on cold and uneven concrete floors. Food and water is rationed to half a loaf of bread and a bottle of water per prisoner every 24 hours.
This is in addition to reports of the brutal torture, humiliation and interrogation of many of the detainees. Reports also indicate that the bodies of prisoners who had died in captivity have not been handed over to their families. It is unknown where these bodies were taken.
These conditions are in clear gross violation of international humanitarian laws and we urgently call on the United Nations Human Rights Council and other global Human Rights organizations to send delegations to inspect the situation of these prisoners and to put pressure on the Gaddafi regime to release them immediately.
The National Transitional Council
6th April 2011
