Libya – bodies and evidence of torture in detention sites in Tripoli and the United Nations calling for an investigation

Volcker Turk said in a statement issued today, Wednesday, that the discoveries confirm the results of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and the Independent United Nations Mission to investigate previous facts, as well as various accounts of eyewitnesses, regarding the existence of such sites and the extent of violations committed, including torture and enforced disappearance.

The High Commissioner added that “Our worse fears are confirmed now that dozens of bodies have been discovered in these sites, as well as discovering tools suspected of torture and abuse, and possible evidence of outside the judiciary.”

Turk stressed the need to close these sites and save all possible evidence in support of the immediate accountability efforts. He also called for the need for those responsible for these terrible acts to justice without delay in accordance with international standards.

Criminal investigation arrival

The High Commissioner for Human Rights also expressed his annoyance with reports that the Libyan criminal investigation authorities in charge of extracting human remains and determining their identity were not given the right to access to the sites for digging them, and urged the authorities to grant full access to full access to all sites.

In the period between 18 and 21 May, the United Nations Office for Human Rights received information about the recovery of ten charred bodies from the headquarters of the stability support agency in Abu Salim, in addition to the discovery of 67 bodies in refrigerators at Abu Salim and Green Hospitals.

Some remains are said to be decomposed by the power outage from the hospital. The identities of the bodies were not clear immediately. It was also reported that a cemetery was discovered in the Tripoli Zoo, which is run by the stability support device.

The High Commissioner said that he also feels sorrow over the horrific pictures of social media and videos of these sites, stressing the necessity of respecting the dignity and privacy of the victims and the rights of their families.

Turk called on the authorities to grant the United Nations access to these sites as part of their mandate to document human rights violations.

An invitation to investigate the killing of Al -Kikli

These sites were found after the killing of the head of the Stabilization Support Agency, Abdul -Ghani Al -Kikli, last month, while the clashes that followed between state security services and armed formations raised protests calling for an end to violence in Tripoli.

This resulted in the killing of a number of civilians and a police officer, as well as severe damage to civilian property, including hospitals, according to the statement.

And Turk said: “We received reports that these themselves were met with excessive force, which sparked serious concerns regarding guaranteeing basic rights in freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the need to protect the civil space.”

The High Commissioner pointed to the public prosecutor announced the formation of two committees to investigate the violations and violations of the human rights committed by security agencies affiliated with the state and the groups associated with them during these clashes.

The authorities also called for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the killing of the head of the stability support agency and in violations and abuses committed by all parties, regardless of their affiliations, through independent and fair mechanisms in order to ensure complete accountability and the rights of victims in fact, justice and compensation.

Volcker Turk said that the Libyan people clearly expressed their demand for truth and justice and their aspiration to a peaceful and safe life with the status of human rights and freedoms in the forefront and at the heart of efforts, including their economic, social and cultural rights.

He called on all responsible political and security parties in the country to use their leadership and authority to protect human rights for all Libyans. He also urged these parties and those who have influence to redouble efforts to end the spiral of repeated transitional arrangements, and to establish a complete and comprehensive democracy.