Libya
29/08/2012 / LIBYA
Extremists demolish Libya’s shrines using bulldozers, explosives
A little over a month after Libya held its first free elections in decades, the government’s grip on power remains tenuous as groups of extremists take advantage of the transition period to carry out attacks. Groups of Salafists have taken to targeting mausoleums and tombs across the country, which, despite being Muslim institutions, they believe to be symbols of heresy. Read more...
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09/07/2012 / LIBYA
In Tripoli’s post-revolution prisons, there is no rule of law
FRANCE 24 gained access to a detention centre administered by a revolutionary militia in the outskirts of the Libyan capital of Tripoli. We found an armed force with the full authority of regular police, but which exercises its power at random. See the images...
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09/07/2012 / LIBYA
On day of historic vote, Libyan activist returns to scene of violent crackdown
During the first days of the popular uprising against former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Samar Serguiwa filmed as pro-Gaddafi forces cracked down on protests in the country’s eastern city of Benghazi and posted the images online. As the country headed out to the polls on Saturday to vote in the first elections since Gaddafi’s ousting, Serguiwa returned to the exact spot where she recorded the video to pay homage to the victims of the uprising. Read more...
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06/07/2012 / LIBYA
Our Observers reveal possibility of vote fraud in Libya’s elections
While recent violence in eastern Libya have some fearing the worst come Saturday’s parliamentary elections, our Observers have already noticed a number of irregularities in the run-up to the vote they say could be exploited to commit fraud. Read more…
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05/07/2012 / LIBYA
Graffitied over and covered up, Libyan women parliamentary hopefuls’ posters vandalised
With Libya’s historic parliamentary elections just days away, the streets of the capital Tripoli have been plastered with campaign posters. Yet walking around, a trend becomes apparent – many of those featuring female candidates have been destroyed while those of men are left largely untouched. Our Observer in Tripoli says that the vandalism may be a sign that many in Libya are simply not ready to see a woman in office. See the images…
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03/07/2012 / LIBYA
Violence flares between rival ethnic tribes in Libyan city of Kufra
Located near Libya’s southeastern border, the city of Kufra has been wracked by mounting ethnic violence over the past week, as rival Toubou and Zwai tribes struggle for control over the region. Yet as the rest of the country prepares for historic parliamentary election this weekend, our Toubou Observer in Kufra says Libya’s interim leaders must withdraw the troops it deployed to the restive city before peace talks can even begin. Read more...
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02/07/2012 / LIBYA
Benghazi election offices attacked as Libya vote approaches
Hundreds of protestors stormed Libya’s High National Election Committee in the eastern city of Benghazi on Sunday in protest against the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections. The attack, which comes in the run up to Libya’s first democratic polls since former leader Muammar Gaddafi’s downfall, highlights some of the challenges facing the fragile country as it endeavours to transition toward democracy. Read more…
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25/06/2012 / LIBYA
Stranded immigrants detained in ‘racist’ Libyan camps
In the nine months since former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s downfall, a number of the country’s immigrant labourers have found that their work permits are no longer valid, and have had difficulties renewing them. Many of these immigrants are now being held in detention camps where are they are forced to live in what human right groups slam as deplorable conditions. Most of those imprisoned are from Sub-Saharan Africa. Read more...
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12/06/2012 / LIBYA
Deadly clashes in southern Libya stoke fears of ethnic violence
At least 23 people were killed in inter-tribal clashes in the south-eastern Libyan town of Koufra in just two days, on Saturday and Sunday, raising the spectre of an ethnic showdown between members of the Saharan Toubou tribe and the Arab Zwei tribe. Read accounts of our Observers on the ground...
18/05/2012 / LIBYA
Seven months after Gaddafi’s death, Libyan rebels still out for revenge
A new video of torture in Libya has surfaced on the Internet. The victim is allegedly a former supporter of ex-Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. According to our Libyan Observer, this kind of vengeful brutality often goes unpunished. Read more…
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