[LIBYAREVIEW] On Thursday, Libya’s Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA) rejected accusations of human rights
...not to be confused with individual rights, mind you...
abuses by Amnesia Amnesty International.
Amnesty published a report on Wednesday, claiming that the SSA had committed unlawful killings, and arbitrary detention of individuals. In addition to intercepting and arbitrarily detaining migrants colonists and refugees, torture, forced labour, and other human rights violations and crimes.
In a statement, the Apparatus, which is funded by the Libyan government, said that the report "lacks the most basic standards of professional work," describing such accusations as "false and slanderous."
It also threatened to sue the International organization for defamation and slander against an official security institution. It claimed that its units are working with "full transparency and professionalism."
The apparatus stressed that it places "the security and stability of Libya at the top of its priorities, and works in accordance with Libyan laws."
"The aforementioned organization (Amnesia Amnesty International) was required to address us and the official security institutions in the Libyan state formally before presenting any report," the apparatus added.
Notably, Amnesty wrote to the Libyan authorities regarding the complaints received against SSA Head, Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli (Ghnewa), and his former deputy, Lotfi al-Harari on 19 April 2022. It demanded their removal from positions that would allow them to commit further violations, interfere in investigations, or grant them immunity, pending investigations. No response was received in time for publication.
An Amnesty delegation visited Libya in February, and spoke to nine people who said they suffered grave human rights violations at the hands of the SSA members. As well as eight family members, and three activists.
"Legitimizing abusive militia leaders and putting them on state payroll, with no questions asked only empowers them to continue trampling on the rights of more people with complete impunity," said Diana Eltahawy, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesia Amnesty International.
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