A Libyan court postponed the trial of the former Chief of the Libyan Military Intelligence, Major General Abdullah Al-Senussi, according to sources told Al-Jamahiriya TV.
The sources pointed out that the reason for the postponement of the case was the “change of the judicial department.” The sources noted that no new date has been set for the next session.
Notably, the daughter of Al-Senussi stated that the family was holding the Libyan government responsible for her father’s health condition.
Sarah Abdullah Al-Senussi said: “We, the family of the struggling prisoner, Abdullah Al-Senussi, deny all rumours spread about him on social media.”
She added that “everyone knows our father’s health condition, which is worsening day after day. The medical committee of the Ministry of Justice is still being prevented from visiting him, despite all the repeated and continuous attempts.”
“Why are they prevented from visiting him and who is behind this matter? We hold all government agencies and external parties interfering with Libyan affairs for what is happening, and what will happen given the deterioration of his serious and worsening health condition,” she added.
On 27 May 2021, the Libyan Supreme Court annulled the 2015 death sentence issued against Al-Senussi, by the Tripoli Criminal Court.
It ordered a retrial, alongside that of 37 other officials accused of suppressing the 2011 revolution in Libya.
However, he is still on trial by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. He is also a key witness in the illicit campaign financing case of former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.
In September, the Magarha tribe and other tribes in southern Libya demanded the Libyan Presidential Council, the Government of National Unity (GNU), and international organizations release the former Intelligence Chief. This is in order for him to receive treatment, after the deterioration of his health inside prison.
In a joint statement, the tribes said that their demand “comes in accordance with the Law of Correction and Rehabilitation Institutions, which stipulates the release of an inmate with a life-threatening illness.”
They added that in March, Al-Senussi underwent a heart operation after suffering a stroke. A date was set for another operation a month later, but the specialist doctor did not respond.