Human Rights Watch condemns detention of Septimius Award organizers

An international rights group has said armed men linked to Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) have arrested two organizers of an annual media award.

Human Rights Watch said Monday that the Special Deterrence Force (SDF) arrested Suleiman Qashout, chair of the Septimus Award’s board, and Mohamed Yaacoubi, director of the award, in the capital, Tripoli, on April 29.

The Septimus Award has been given annually since 2012 to Libyan media professionals, singers and actors.