The National Committee for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL) condemned and denounced the arrest of people arriving in Mitiga Airport from Benghazi’s Benina Airport.
In a statement, the NCHRL called on the Ministry of Interior of the Government of National Accord (GNA) to urgently intervene to release the eastern Libyan individuals who were arrested by GNA-affiliated militias. The Committee called on the GNA to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Committee asked the GNA’s Interior Ministry to open an independent investigation through which the parties involved in committing these gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law would be identified.
Yesterday, the Interior Ministry denounced the incident saying that these acts were committed by a group working for their personal interests, and who did not represent the GNA. The ministry emphasized that the detentions do not serve the public interest of the country, but rather increase the division between the Libyan people. It also stated that such acts undermine the ongoing peace negotiations in Libya.
Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha gave orders to the Tripoli Security Directorate and the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the incident. He also called for legal action against the armed group that has detained the Libyan nationals.