Monday, 30 January 2012
The United Nations estimated late last year that some 7,000 people, mostly sub-Saharan Africans accused of being Qaddafi mercenaries, were being held in detention centers run by Libyan militias. (File photo)
Former pro-Qaddafi fighter Milad Mohammed Yusuf lifts his pajama shirt to reveal dozens of scars from what he says are cigarette burns and chain beatings, claims his jailer denies.
Yusuf, a prison inmate in the western city of Misrata, says he has been held in his small cell at the army-run facility since Oct. 28, five weeks after being captured.
“For days I was beaten with chains and sticks on my back and legs by thwar (revolutionary fighters) who captured me near Misrata,” Yusuf told AFP, rolling up his pants to show deep scars.
“I was targeted because I am from Tuwarga,” Yusuf said, referring to the town near Misrata, which forces loyal to slain Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi laid siege to for weeks during the armed uprising that ousted the dictator.
Yusuf, a prison inmate in the western city of Misrata, says he has been held in his small cell at the army-run facility since Oct. 28, five weeks after being captured.
“For days I was beaten with chains and sticks on my back and legs by thwar (revolutionary fighters) who captured me near Misrata,” Yusuf told AFP, rolling up his pants to show deep scars.
“I was targeted because I am from Tuwarga,” Yusuf said, referring to the town near Misrata, which forces loyal to slain Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi laid siege to for weeks during the armed uprising that ousted the dictator.
The prison is one that Doctors Without Borders said it was pulling out of last week due to the “torture” of inmates.
Misrata fighters accuse Tuwarga residents of fighting alongside Kadhafi's forces and raping their women during the assault on their port city.
After breaking the siege, the Misrata fighters unleashed a fierce attack on the Kadhafi’s hometown of Sirte, where he was killed on Oct. 20.
“I did not commit any rapes. I did not rape any women. I fought on the side of Kadhafi, but I was in his army so I had to fight,” said Yusuf, 52.
“But the thwar who captured me beat me, tortured me and insulted me.”
Another former pro-Qaddafi soldier, Saleh Mustafa Abdullah Sishan, also said he was repeatedly beaten with rods and other metal objects since being captured in Tripoli.
“They hit me again and again with cables,” said the 25-year-old, showing his arms which bore long, dark scars.
“They did not give me electric shocks but hit me with electric wires,” he added.
Most of the prisoners who spoke to AFP said they were unaware of the charges they face and have yet to gain access to lawyers. Officials said their cases were still being prepared.
Their accusations come just days after rights watchdogs accused the former rebels of torturing Qaddafi loyalists to the extent that some died in custody.
Amnesty International reported last week that its delegates noticed visible signs of torture among prisoners in Tripoli, Misrata and smaller towns like Ghariyan.
“The torture is being carried out by officially recognized military and security entities, as well by a multitude of armed militias operating outside any legal framework,” said Amnesty.
Separately, Doctors Without Borders suspended its work in Misrata as its medics were increasingly confronted with patients who suffered injuries caused by “torture” during questioning.
“Patients were brought to us in the middle of interrogation for medical care, in order to make them fit for further interrogation. This is unacceptable,” its general director Christopher Stokes.
Justice Minister Ali H’mida Ashur neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, but acknowledged some Libyan prisons were under the control of militias.
Ibrahim Beatelmal, who is in charge of the Misrata prison, denied any inmates had been abused at the facility.
“If any prisoner was tortured before he came to my prison, then it is a different story. In this prison nobody has been tortured,” Beatelmal, himself an ex-serviceman in Qaddafi’s army, told AFP.
He said most prisoners came to the facility after being held for several days or weeks in detention centers run by former rebels.
“Some detainees were transferred to the prison weeks after they were caught. What happens to them before they are handed over to us is difficult to say,” he said.
Beatelmal expressed surprise at the reports by Amnesty and Doctors Without Borders.
“I am really surprised where they are getting their information from. They have made mistakes. They are talking of abuses which probably occurred before the detainees came to us,’ he said.
An official from Doctors Without Borders who had come to meet Beatelmal refused to speak to AFP, but said that her organization was now “stepping back.”
“We have already caused lot of problems,’ she said, as she beat a hasty retreat out of the prison.
The United Nations estimated late last year that some 7,000 people, mostly sub-Saharan Africans accused of being Qaddafi mercenaries, were being held in detention centers run by Libyan militias.
Misrata fighters accuse Tuwarga residents of fighting alongside Kadhafi's forces and raping their women during the assault on their port city.
After breaking the siege, the Misrata fighters unleashed a fierce attack on the Kadhafi’s hometown of Sirte, where he was killed on Oct. 20.
“I did not commit any rapes. I did not rape any women. I fought on the side of Kadhafi, but I was in his army so I had to fight,” said Yusuf, 52.
“But the thwar who captured me beat me, tortured me and insulted me.”
Another former pro-Qaddafi soldier, Saleh Mustafa Abdullah Sishan, also said he was repeatedly beaten with rods and other metal objects since being captured in Tripoli.
“They hit me again and again with cables,” said the 25-year-old, showing his arms which bore long, dark scars.
“They did not give me electric shocks but hit me with electric wires,” he added.
Most of the prisoners who spoke to AFP said they were unaware of the charges they face and have yet to gain access to lawyers. Officials said their cases were still being prepared.
Their accusations come just days after rights watchdogs accused the former rebels of torturing Qaddafi loyalists to the extent that some died in custody.
Amnesty International reported last week that its delegates noticed visible signs of torture among prisoners in Tripoli, Misrata and smaller towns like Ghariyan.
“The torture is being carried out by officially recognized military and security entities, as well by a multitude of armed militias operating outside any legal framework,” said Amnesty.
Separately, Doctors Without Borders suspended its work in Misrata as its medics were increasingly confronted with patients who suffered injuries caused by “torture” during questioning.
“Patients were brought to us in the middle of interrogation for medical care, in order to make them fit for further interrogation. This is unacceptable,” its general director Christopher Stokes.
Justice Minister Ali H’mida Ashur neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, but acknowledged some Libyan prisons were under the control of militias.
Ibrahim Beatelmal, who is in charge of the Misrata prison, denied any inmates had been abused at the facility.
“If any prisoner was tortured before he came to my prison, then it is a different story. In this prison nobody has been tortured,” Beatelmal, himself an ex-serviceman in Qaddafi’s army, told AFP.
He said most prisoners came to the facility after being held for several days or weeks in detention centers run by former rebels.
“Some detainees were transferred to the prison weeks after they were caught. What happens to them before they are handed over to us is difficult to say,” he said.
Beatelmal expressed surprise at the reports by Amnesty and Doctors Without Borders.
“I am really surprised where they are getting their information from. They have made mistakes. They are talking of abuses which probably occurred before the detainees came to us,’ he said.
An official from Doctors Without Borders who had come to meet Beatelmal refused to speak to AFP, but said that her organization was now “stepping back.”
“We have already caused lot of problems,’ she said, as she beat a hasty retreat out of the prison.
The United Nations estimated late last year that some 7,000 people, mostly sub-Saharan Africans accused of being Qaddafi mercenaries, were being held in detention centers run by Libyan militias.
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