Amnesty urges Libya to tackle 'stain' of detainee abuse

[nofurylike]

Libya's interim authorities must end arbitrary detention and abuse of inmates, Amnesty International says.
October 13, 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15284264

In a report, the London-based rights group said it had uncovered evidence of torture and ill-treatment of thousands of people detained in recent months.

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"We understand that the transitional authorities are facing many challenges, but if they do not make a clear break with the past now, they will effectively be sending out a message that treating detainees like this is to be tolerated in the new Libya," Amnesty's Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said.

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The report also urged the Libyan authorities to bring all detention facilities under the justice ministry's control to allow inmates to challenge the lawfulness of their arrests.

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Reuters news agency quoted council spokesman Jalal al-Galal as saying: "[NTC Chairman] Mustafa Abdel Jalil has said time and time again that he will not tolerate abuse of prisoners and has made it abundantly clear that he will investigate any such allegations."

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