Tarhuna victims’ families demand justice and end to impunity

The Tarhuna Victims’ Family Association has reiterated its demand for accountability for those implicated in human rights violations in the city, voicing anger at what it described as persistent impunity.

The call came during a meeting organised by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), with the participation of representatives from the Presidential Council; the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Interior and Defence; the Office of the Military Prosecutor; the General Authority for the Search and Identification of Missing Persons; and the National Council for Civil Liberties and Human Rights.

In a statement, the association noted that although the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued six arrest warrants and two suspects have been detained, none has yet been transferred to The Hague. While stressing that it does not question the integrity or capacity of the Libyan judiciary, the association said that instability and weak executive authority necessitate referring the suspects to the ICC.

Members further complained that some of the accused had joined security forces or fled to neighbouring countries, while others were allegedly assisted in escaping detention following a recent security operation in Tripoli.

Tarhuna’s mayor, Mohamed al-Kashar, added that fear of reprisals by members of the al-Kaniyat militia continues to discourage citizens from giving testimony or filing complaints with the authorities.