Libya rejects Amnesty report on rights abuse



TRIPOLI- Libya on Thursday dismissed a report by Amnesty International on rights abuse that said the North African country was stalling on reform, saying it did not reflect reality.
The foreign ministry also invited Amnesty, which issued a critical report of Libya's human rights record on Wednesday based on findings made during a visit in May 2009, to send over a new fact-finding team.



Tripoli's old town
Tripoli's old town
Libya "rejects and denounces the false information contained in the (Amnesty) report which do not reflect the real situation of human rights in the country," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Libya invites Amnesty "to visit and see the reality on the ground," the statement said, adding that the organisation's report showed that its authors have failed "to understand the political system in Libya."
On Wednesday, Amnesty said in a report that Libya's international acceptance is not being matched by reforms to improve the former pariah state's human rights record.
"Human rights are suffering in Libya as it continues to stall on reform... despite the country’s efforts to play a greater international role," the London-based organisation said.
Amnesty said it documented floggings for adultery, as well as indefinite detentions, migrant and refugee abuses, the disappearance of dissidents and security forces' immunity from prosecution, during a visit to Libya in May 2009.
Hundreds of people languished in jails after serving out their sentences, some of them held after statements obtained under torture used as evidence, it said.
"If Libya is to have any international credibility, the authorities must ensure that no-one is above the law and that everyone, including the most vulnerable and marginalised, is protected by the law," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty's Middle East and northern Africa deputy director.
"The repression of dissent must end," the report quoted her as saying.
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Friday, June 25th 2010
AFP
           


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