Libya’s Interior Minister, Khaled Mazen affirmed his keenness to resume voluntary repatriation flights for migrants, resolve issues surrounding their abuse, and hold those responsible to account.
During a meeting with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Libyan Parliament, Youssef Al-Agouri, the interior minister stressed the ministry’s respect for the rights of migrants.
Al-Agouri emphasised the importance of resuming these flights, “to alleviate human suffering as a result of overcrowding in shelter centers, and to follow up on local and international reports of violations against migrants, especially in shelters.”
The meeting also dealt with the needs of the National Safety Authority, and benefiting from international support programs in border management.
On Sunday, the National Commission for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL) denounced reports of killing and excessive use of force against migrants and asylum seekers in Gargaresh, Tripoli.
In a statement, the Commission affirmed the right of the Libyan state to regulate and control the entry and stay of immigrants and foreigners present on its territory, “to maintain order and achieve security and stability and eliminate crime. Meanwhile, it is very important to respect at all times the human rights and dignity of all people, including migrants and asylum-seekers.”
The Commission also reiterated that the use of excessive and unwarranted lethal force by security and police forces during law enforcement operations is a violation of national and international law.
It demanded the Office of the Libyan Attorney General open a comprehensive investigation into the grave violations suffered by citizens and migrants temporarily residing in the Gargaresh area in central Tripoli.
Notably, the United Nations has repeatedly condemned the inhuman conditions in Libya’s detention centers. Migrants and refugees are reportedly held in severely overcrowded facilities with limited access to life-saving humanitarian assistance.