Libya urged to improve rights record

CAIRO – Human Rights Watch released a rare report yesterday on the situation in Libya, acknowledging that some steps have been taken towards improving freedoms but saying there was little political will to reform.

In its 85-page report compiled after a three-week visit to Libya in spring 2005, the New York-based watchdog described Libya as a “country undergoing gradual change after years of strict repression and global isolation”. HRW noted that Libya had promised political refugees they could return without fear of prosecution and adapted its institutions to guarantee greater independence of the judiciary.But the report also stressed that “scores of individuals are in prison for peacefully expressing criticism of the government or alternative political views”.The offenders are generally charged with violating Law 71, which bans political activity opposing the principles of the 1969 revolution in which Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi took power.- Nampa-AFPHRW noted that Libya had promised political refugees they could return without fear of prosecution and adapted its institutions to guarantee greater independence of the judiciary.But the report also stressed that “scores of individuals are in prison for peacefully expressing criticism of the government or alternative political views”.The offenders are generally charged with violating Law 71, which bans political activity opposing the principles of the 1969 revolution in which Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi took power.- Nampa-AFP