Amnesty shocked by conditions facing migrants

File photo: Reuters

File photo: Reuters

Published Jun 20, 2013

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Tripoli - Amnesty International on Thursday called on Libya to take immediate action to bring an end to the “deplorable conditions” endured by thousands of would-be migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, including many children.

The human rights watchdog also appealed to the European Union, which it said was assisting Libya to curb EU-bound “illegal” migrants, to ensure its drive to halt them does not worsen the situation.

It said it had evidence that the mainly sub-Saharan Africans detained at seven Libyan “holding centres” it visited were subjected to ill-treatment that in some cases amounted to torture.

“Thousands of foreign nationals... are subjected to arbitrary arrests and held for long periods in deplorable conditions at immigration detention facilities described by the Libyan authorities as 'holding centres', with no immediate prospect of release or redress in sight,” said Amnesty.

In its report, the London-based watchdog said it had documented cases where detainees, including women, were subjected to “brutal beatings with water pipes and electric cables”.

It compared such cases to the iron-fisted rule of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed when his regime was ousted in an armed uprising in 2011.

“The torture and ill-treatment we uncovered at 'holding centres' is unacceptable and is a stain on the record of post-Gaddafi Libya,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty's deputy programme director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“Libya's Constitutional Declaration, adopted in 2011, declares that the 'state shall guarantee the right of asylum by virtue of the law',” Amnesty said in a statement.

“It is urgent the authorities translate this principle into real action and adopt legislation establishing a national asylum system.” - Sapa-AFP

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