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LIBYA: MILITARY PROSECUTOR FORCIBLY DISAPPEARED

Farouq Alsqidig Abdulsalam Ben Saeed, a military prosecutor, has been forcibly disappeared since armed men in plainclothes abducted him from a Tripoli street on 26 June. His family lodged complaints with the police and prosecution authorities but received no information about his fate and whereabouts. There are credible reports that he is being held by the Deterrence Apparatus for Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime, a state-backed militia notorious for committing gross human rights violations, including torture and other ill-treatment, raising fears for his safety and wellbeing. Amnesty International calls on the Libyan authorities must immediately reveal his fate and whereabouts.

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President

Mohamed

Yunus Al-Menfi

Council of Libya

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My message to {contact_data~firstName} {contact_data~lastName}

I am concerned about the enforced disappearance of 52-year-old military prosecutor, Farouq Alsqidig Abdulsalam Ben Saeed (hereafter Farouq Ben Saeed), since his abduction on 26 June from Tripoli, the Libyan capital, amid credible reports that he is being held by the Deterrence Apparatus for Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime (known as Al-Radaa), a powerful militia operating under the oversight of the Government of National Unity’s (GNU's) Presidential Council.

Amnesty International learned that at 7pm on 26 June, three armed men in plainclothes seized Farouq Alsqidig Abdulsalam Ben Saeed and his two sons, aged 13 and nine, from the Tripoli neighbourhood of Al Bivio. The armed men, who refused to show an arrest warrant or explain the reasons for the arrest, forced Farouq Ben Saeed and his children into their vehicle (which the family identified as a 2012 Kia Sportage) and drove away. Two hours later, the children returned and told the family that the three had been taken to Mitiga prison, which is located inside the Mitiga International Airport complex and is under the control of Al-Radaa. Given the well-documented patterns of the Al-Radaa militia committing crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations - including enforced disappearance, unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment and prolonged arbitrary detention with impunity - there are serious fears for his safety and wellbeing, in particular given his poor health, including complications from chronic bronchitis.

In the days following his abduction, Farouq Ben Saeed’s relatives lodged complaints with the Souq Al-Jumaa Police Station and the Office of the Public Prosecutor, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, but have not received any information about his fate or whereabouts. According to information gathered by Amnesty International, the Public Prosecutor has not requested for Farouq Ben Saeed to be brought before prosecutors for questioning. The family said that the Military Prosecutor, Masoud Rahouma, informed them that his office is unable to intervene until Al-Radaa officially notifies him of the arrest. The family have no information about any charges facing him, amid concerns that he is targeted for politically motivated reasons including for refusing to cooperate with or heed instructions by Al-Radaa militia.

I urge you to ensure that Farouq Ben Saeed’s fate and whereabouts are immediately revealed, he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and immediately released. If charged with an internationally recognizable offence, he should be brought promptly in front of competent judicial authorities and tried in proceedings in line with international standards for fair trial. Pending his release, he must be granted immediate access to his family, lawyers, and adequate medical care.

Kind regards,
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