MEDIA ADVISORY
Amnesty International experts available for interview
Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi and Libya’s former intelligence chief, Abdallah al-Senussi, are among 37 former government officials who are standing trial in Libya on charges relating to the 2011 uprising and subsequent armed conflict. Their court proceedings – via video link for some of the defendants –resumes on Sunday, 27 April.
Libya has repeatedly insisted it is able to ensure a fair trial for all defendants. However, Amnesty International has serious doubts about the capacity of Libya’s judiciary to guarantee a fair trial for former members of the al-Gaddafi regime.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also charged Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi and Abdallah al-Senussi with crimes against humanity.
Amnesty International has released the following Questions and Answers document providing a detailed analysis of its key concerns about the trial:
Trial of former Libyan officials including Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi and Abdallah al-Senussi
On 14 April a court ordered that Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, who remains in militia custody, and six other defendants held in Misratah may be tried via video link, a move that will seriously undermine their rights to a fair trial. For further information see: Libya: Trial of former al-Gaddafi officials by video link a farce
Magdalena Mughrabi, Amnesty International’s Libya researcher, and Solomon Sacco, the organization’s Senior Legal Advisor, have been following the trial proceedings and are available for interview from London
Possible talking points:
• Flaws in Libya’s current justice system
• Impact of lawlessness and insecurity on lawyers and judges
• Defendants’ detention conditions
• Decision to allow trial by video link for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi
• The role of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
To arrange an interview, please contact:
Amnesty International’s press office on [email protected] or call +44 (0) 20 7413 5511 or Out of Hours press mobile: +44 (0) 777 847 2126