Human Rights in the Middle East: Countries--Libya


Figure 1.--.

Libya is a dictatorship with an extensive security aparatus. Col. Qadafi maintains an extensive security apparatus. There are several elite military units, including Qadhafi's personal bodyguards, local Revolutionary Committees, People's Committees, and "Purification" Committees. The result is a a multilayered, pervasive surveillance system that monitored and controlled the lives and ctivities of all Libyan citizens. These various security forces are responsible for numerous human rights abuses. The government under Col. Qadafi compleletly control the press. Citizens are not allowed to criticise Qadafi and the government and even peaceful protest is prohibited. There does not appear to be any extra-judicial killing, but the Government controled the judiciary and poor prison conditions have resulted un deaths. The Government has supported overseas terror attacks. The Government in an effort to deflect criticism og poor health care held foreign health care workers in jail for years.

Historical Background

The first know human settlements in Libya are Phoenician colonies established along the coast (about 1000 BC). Carthage conquered the Phoenician colonies along the coast of Libya (6th century BC). Carthage itself was founded as a Phoenician colony, but in large measure because of its location became the predominany naval power in the eastern Mediterranean. The Garamantian Empire appears in what is now Fezzan (5th century). Libya was a Roman province and an important source of grain. With the collapse of the Western Empire, the Vandals seize Libya (455 AD). Amr Ibnu l-As conqued northeastern Libya, known as Barka (643). The region became part of the new Muslim Empire. The Arabs conquer Tripolitania (647). Libya was briefly occupied by the Normans (1146). It eventually became an Ottoman vassal state. For several centuries wih the operation of the Barbary Pirates, the economy was based on piracy and slave trading. The Karamanli Dynasty seized control of Tripoli (1711). Libya was colonized by Libya (1911). The Italians were driven out by the British after the World War II battle of El Alemaine in Egypt (1942). After World War II a leader of the resistance to the Italians led the country to independence becoming King Idris. Colonel Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi seized power from pro-western King Idris (1969). Qadhafi established the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya which he runs as a personal dictatorship. Qadafi runs Libya with an often incoherent mixture of Islamic, socialist, and pan-Arab ideas. Qadhafi rejects democracy and political parties and claims to have establish a "third way" superior to both capitalism and communism. His ideas are expressed in his "Green Book."

Political Rights

Qadafi after seizing power proclaimed a constitution (1969). A further political statement was the Declaration on the Establishment of the Authority of the People (1977). These documents provide for governing the country through a series of popular congresses. In practice Libya citizens have no real political rights. The country is govrned by Col. Qadhafi and his inner circle. Qadhafi relies on extragovernmental organizations, the Revolutionary Committees, to suprevise the Libyan people.

Freedom of Expression

The government under Col. Qadafi compleletly control the press. Citizens are not allowed to criticise Qadafi and the government and even peaceful protest is prohibited. The Government stricly limits freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association. There are also limits on freedom of movement. The Government prohibited the establishment of independent human rights organizations. Internet and satellite television are available in Libya.

Economic Rights

The Libyan economy is almost totally based on the country oil revenue. The oil revenue is controlled by Qadafi. Libya is essentially living off its oil revenue. The lck of protection of individual rights including property rights as well as Qadafi's chaotic philosophy has discouraged private investment and growth of the economy. Poor academic standards has meant that the country is not oroducing the specialists and technicians needed to operate a modern economy. The Government does not permit the establishment of free trade unions. The Government offers no protection for basic worker rights. Authorities use forced labor and discriminates against foreign workers.

Women's Rights

Violence against women is a continuing problem. This is largely due to raditional Islamic attitudes and practices which adversely affect women. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is still practiced in rural areas.

Minority Groups

he Government discriminates against tribal groups. Authorities tightly control ethnic and tribal minorities, such as Amazighs (Berbers), Tuaregs, and the Warfalla tribe.

Religious Freedom

The Government has a mixed record on freedom of religion. Authorities are reatively tolerant regarding religion with the exception of Jews and fundamentalist and militant Islam, which is seen as a security treat. The Government banned the once powerful Sanusiyya Sufi order of Islam. Qadhafi has replaced it with the Islamic Call Society (ICS), which was essentially a state controlled Islam. ICS is also responsible for relations with other religions, including Christian churches in the country. The Government announced plans to disband ICS (1992). It appears, however, to continue to operate. The Government controls Islamic clerics in a number of ways and bans Islamic groups whose beliefs and practices do not cnform to state approced norms. Some othr religions are allowed to conduct services. Christian churches operated openly. They are tolerated by authorities and we have not noted reports of attacks on Christians. The major limitation is the small number f churches. Authorities restrict Christians to one church per denomination per city.

Personal Conduct and Privacy

There is no right to privcy in Libya. Security forces infringe on citizens' privacy rights. Ter is no legal right to be secure in homes or to own private property.

Coruption


Security Aparatus

Col. Qadafi maintains an extensive security apparatus. There are several elite military units, including Qadhafi's personal bodyguards, local Revolutionary Committees, People's Committees, and "Purification" Committees. The result is a a multilayered, pervasive surveillance system that monitored and controlled the lives and ctivities of all Libyan citizens. These various security forces are responsible for numerous human rights abuses.Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained persons, and many prisoners were held incommunicado. Political detainees can be held for years without charge or trial.

Judicial System

Not only is there no independent judiciary in Libya, but the security forces have virtually unlimited powers of arrest abd detentin and the power to pass sentences without trial. Te regime uses summary judicial proceedings to deal with domestic opposition. Security forces torture prisoners during interrogations and as punishment during detention. Prison conditions are poor. There is no right to a fair or even public trial or to be represented by legal counsel. There does not appear to be any extra-judicial killing, but the Government controled the judiciary and poor prison conditions have resulted un deaths. The Government has supported overseas terror attacks. The Government in an effort to deflect criticism og poor health care held foreign health care workers in jail for years.

Education

The Government subsidizes public education which is compulsory until age 15. Education achieevement has improved during the Qadafi years. Iliteracy has been substantially reduced. Educational standards are, however, basically low. The Government restricts academic freedom. Professors and teachers who discussed politically sensitive topics face dismisal or even arrest.

Health Care

The Government subsidizes health care. Health care has also improved, but in recent years has declined and there have been cutbacks in medical services.

Crime

Violent crime is not a severe problem in Libya. There are incidents of petty crime, such as pick pocketing in the busy market areas.

Sex Issues

Homosexuality is considered a criminal offence in Libya. Sexual relations outside marriage are also punishable by law.

Slavery

Libyan citizens have been involved in the purchase of enslaved Sudanese individuals. This was mostly southern Sudanese women and children who were captured by Sudanese government troops. The resolution of the north/south civil war appears to have ended this. I am not sure about the situatin in reference to Darfur. Slavery tends to be an ongoing problem in Muslim countries like Libya without a strong secular legal system. This is in paart because the Koran tolerates slavery.

Military Service


Sources







HBC








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Created: 5:18 AM 9/16/2007
Last updated: 5:19 AM 9/16/2007