ICC prosecutor says war crimes including torture committed in Libya

Its been nearly a year since Libyan civil war first began and debit UN's repeated calls re hasn't been a ceasefire as yet. On May 5, prosecutor of International Criminal Court (ICC) appealing at a virtual briefing warned that war crimes might have been committed in country. Fatou Bensouda retreated that under Rome Statute, intentionally attacking civilians, which was prominent in Libya, was a war crime that could be tried under ICC. 

“Of particular concern to my Office are high numbers of civilian casualties, largely reported to be resulting from airstrikes and shelling operations”, said Bensouda.

'Brutal methods of torture'

Bensouda highlighted that re were “grave and persistent” arbitrary detentions and mistreatments of migrants and refugees who were at risk of torture, murder and various forms of sexual violence. top prosecutor said that former detainees h reported "brutal methods of torture” while many ors have died from ir injuries or lack of medical care. 

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She also highlighted that re was a surge in numbers of “enforced disappearance”. ding that se illegal disappearances, when targeted against prominent members of society like journalists and human rights defenders, sent a strong message that “voices of dissent should not be tolerated” and causes “grave consequences” for both individuals and society.

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Meanwhile, re has been increasing use of hate speech. Under  Rome Statute, a person who “instigates commission of crimes by ors” is also responsible for war crimes, ICC Prosecutor spelled out. She ded that “derogatory and dehumanising language" targeting certain individuals or groups h become more widespre both in tritional and social media. She ded that it causes hatred and fear in communities. 

In conclusion, she highlighted that re were suspects at large that were roaming free. She noted that Saif Al-Islam Gdafi was convicted in absentia but has me no efforts to surrender since April 2016. Al-Tuhamy Khaled in Cairo and Mahmoud Al-Werfalli h also not been executed as yet. “I call on this Council, Court’s States Parties and international community more broly, to stand firmly by ICC and its crucial mandate to end impunity for world’s gravest crimes”, she said.

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(Image credits: AP)