The Crime Monitoring Organization accuses Haftar of expanding arbitrary arrest campaigns

The Libyan Crime Monitoring Organization accused the American Khalifa Haftar of involvement in expanding arbitrary arrest campaigns in the areas under his control.

The organization explained in its report on human rights violations during the month of last spring/March, that arbitrary arrest campaigns in areas under Haftar’s control in the eastern region increased significantly, as 7 cases of kidnapping and arbitrary arrest were recorded in the cities of Shahat, Benghazi, Derna, and Al-Marj, most of them by Internal Security Agency.

It pointed out that Internal Security arrested 4 protesters in eastern Libya, simply for demanding elections, and although they were released, they were threatened not to participate in any gatherings or make any statements without prior security approval.

The organization continued by saying, “What was monitored does not necessarily reflect the total volume of violations that may have occurred during the aforementioned period,” calling on the governments of Dabaiba and the government of eastern Libya to bear their full responsibilities for these violations, reveal the fate of detainees and forcibly disappeared persons, and release them unconditionally.

The organization concluded by saying, “The security and military authorities in eastern Libya must take the necessary measures to protect demonstrators and protesters from all forms of harassment, and guarantee freedom of opinion and expression and the right to demonstrate and peaceful assembly.”