UN Human Rights Chief Condemns Gross Violations in Libya
In a shocking revelation, United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has expressed deep concern over the discovery of gross human rights violations at detention facilities run by Libya’s Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA) force. The findings, which include dozens of bodies and suspected instruments of torture, have sparked widespread outrage and calls for immediate action.
According to Türk, the discoveries confirm earlier reports by the UN Support Mission in Libya and the former UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission, as well as witness accounts. "Our worst-held fears are being confirmed: dozens of bodies have been discovered at these sites, along with the discovery of suspected instruments of torture and abuse and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings," he said in a statement. The SSA, established under Libya’s Presidential Council in 2021, has been implicated in the atrocities.
The UN Human Rights Office has received information on the excavation of 10 charred bodies at the SSA headquarters in Abu Salim, as well as the discovery of 67 bodies in refrigerators at local hospitals. A burial site was also reportedly found at the SSA-run Tripoli Zoo. The identities of the bodies have not been immediately apparent, and some remains are in an advanced state of decomposition due to power outages.
Türk has called for the sealing of the sites and prompt, independent, and transparent investigations by the Libyan authorities. He has also urged the authorities to grant full and unimpeded access to all sites in Libya, a significant oil producer in the Mediterranean. The UN rights chief is troubled by reports that Libya’s forensic authorities have not yet been granted access to excavate the sites, and he has called on the Libyan authorities to grant the UN access to the sites as part of its mandate to document human rights violations.
The situation in Libya has been volatile since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi. The country has been divided and unstable, with various armed groups vying for power. The recent killing of Abdul Ghani al-Kikli, the SSA’s leader, has triggered clashes between state security actors and armed groups, resulting in protests and civilian casualties.
Türk has emphasized the need for accountability and justice, stating that those responsible for the atrocities must be brought to justice without delay and under international standards. He has also expressed concern over the sharing of "horrifying images" and video footage of the sites on social media, and has called on the Libyan authorities to protect civic space and guarantee the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and assembly.
As the situation in Libya continues to unfold, the international community is watching with bated breath, hoping for a swift and just resolution to the crisis. The UN’s call for action is a stark reminder of the need for accountability and human rights protection in the region.
