On Tuesday, 22 October, Libya Crimes Watch (LCW) documented the arbitrary arrest of Ali Nasser Abu Rzayza (34 years old), Head of the Local Youth Council in the Municipality of Al-Khums. He was detained by five unidentified armed men travelling in civilian vehicles in the southern part of Al-Khums. Abu Rzayza was taken to an unknown location, and contact with him has since been lost. He remains forcibly disappeared to this day.
LCW holds the authorities in western Libya, including the security agencies and armed groups affiliated with the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Libyan Presidential Council (LPC), fully legally responsible for Abu Rzayza’s safety. LCW calls on them to immediately disclose his fate and whereabouts and to ensure his unconditional release.
LCW further calls on the Libyan Attorney General to urgently open an independent and transparent investigation into this incident and to take all necessary measures to identify and hold those responsible to account, in line with international fair trial standards.
LCW also urges the authorities in western Libya to immediately end the systematic violations against civilians and to ensure Libya’s compliance with its international obligations under international human rights law (IHRL), particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Update
Ali Nasser Abu Rzayza was released on Wednesday, 19 November, after 28 days of arbitrary detention south of Al-Khums.
