Libya has become a key conduit for migrants making desperate bids to reach Europe. Many end up stranded in the country where they are prey to abuse at the hands of people-trafficking gangs, rights groups say. AFP
Libya has become a key conduit for migrants making desperate bids to reach Europe. Many end up stranded in the country where they are prey to abuse at the hands of people-trafficking gangs, rights groups say. AFP
Libya has become a key conduit for migrants making desperate bids to reach Europe. Many end up stranded in the country where they are prey to abuse at the hands of people-trafficking gangs, rights groups say. AFP
Libya has become a key conduit for migrants making desperate bids to reach Europe. Many end up stranded in the country where they are prey to abuse at the hands of people-trafficking gangs, rights gro

MENA

Hague prosecutors asked to investigate reported war crimes against migrants in Libya

NGOs claim Italy and Malta governments were complicit in abuse of asylum seekers

Neil Murphy
Neil Murphy

January 21, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Human rights groups have asked the International Criminal Court in the Hague to investigate possible war crimes that were perpetrated against migrants being detained in Libya

Three European NGOs — StraLi, based in Italy, the Dutch group UpRights and France's Adala for All — claim thousands of asylum seekers, including children, endured systematic abuse by Libyan armed groups between 2017 and 2021 as they attempted the dangerous crossing from North Africa to Europe.

They also claim officials in Malta and Italy were complicit in the abuse after they “acted in a co-ordinated manner with the Libyan coastguard in the recovery of migrants to ensure that they were intercepted and returned to Libya".

READ MORE

Libya still the most popular starting point for illegal migration to Europe

The activists, who issued the request this week, said the incidents should be investigated as war crimes under Article 8 of the International Criminal Court Statute and as crimes against humanity under Article 7, InfoMigrants said.

Ramadan Amani, spokesman for Adala for All, said there was “evidence of pervasive international crimes on Europe’s doorstep".

Last year, investigators commissioned by the UN’s top human rights body also found evidence of possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the North African country.

The first findings from a “fact-finding mission” commissioned by the Human Rights Council chronicle crimes including murder, torture, enslavement, extrajudicial killings and rape.

Illegal crossings into southern Europe from Libya and Tunisia — in pictures

A migrant rescued by Tunisia's national guard during an attempt to enter Europe by crossing the Mediterranean by boat at the port of El Ketef, near the border with Libya. All photos: AFP
A migrant rescued by Tunisia's national guard during an attempt to enter Europe by crossing the Mediterranean by boat at the port of El Ketef, near the border with Libya. All photos: AFP
Rescued migrants rest at El Ketef after an aborted crossing of the Mediterranean.
Rescued migrants rest at El Ketef after an aborted crossing of the Mediterranean.
Migrants arrive in Tunisia and Libya from many parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia to attempt the crossing.
Migrants arrive in Tunisia and Libya from many parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia to attempt the crossing.
Thousands pay traffickers to help them on the last leg of their journey, often in vessels that are not seaworthy. These migrants are resting at El Ketef after being rescued by Tunisia's national guard.
Thousands pay traffickers to help them on the last leg of their journey, often in vessels that are not seaworthy. These migrants are resting at El Ketef after being rescued by Tunisia's national guard.
Huge numbers are still attempting the crossing despite cold winter weather and rough seas.
Huge numbers are still attempting the crossing despite cold winter weather and rough seas.
Bangladeshi migrants who were rescued as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea by boat wait to board a bus as they are deported from Libya in Tripoli. Tunisia and Libya are key departure points for migrants attempting the dangerous crossing from the North African coast to Europe, particularly Italy.
Bangladeshi migrants who were rescued as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea by boat wait to board a bus as they are deported from Libya in Tripoli. Tunisia and Libya are key departure points for migrants attempting the dangerous crossing from the North African coast to Europe, particularly Italy.
Last year, a record 35,000 migrants reached the Italian island of Lampedusa, which lies about 333 kilometres off the coast of Tunisia.
Last year, a record 35,000 migrants reached the Italian island of Lampedusa, which lies about 333 kilometres off the coast of Tunisia.
Other migrants become stranded in North Africa because they cannot afford to pay traffickers for the boat journey to Europe.
Other migrants become stranded in North Africa because they cannot afford to pay traffickers for the boat journey to Europe.
The UN says some migrants are joining forces to buy their own boats to attempt the crossing.
The UN says some migrants are joining forces to buy their own boats to attempt the crossing.
Migrants rescued by Tunisia's national guard during an attempted crossing of the Mediterranean by boat, rest on the beach at the port of el-Ketef in Ben Guerdane in southern Tunisia near the border with Libya.
Migrants rescued by Tunisia's national guard during an attempted crossing of the Mediterranean by boat, rest on the beach at the port of el-Ketef in Ben Guerdane in southern Tunisia near the border with Libya.
Bangladeshi migrants wait to board a bus as they are deported from Libya.
Bangladeshi migrants wait to board a bus as they are deported from Libya.
The Libyan Coast Guard rescued more than 30,000 as they attempted the crossing last year, more than three times as many as in the previous year.
The Libyan Coast Guard rescued more than 30,000 as they attempted the crossing last year, more than three times as many as in the previous year.
More than 1,300 people died trying to make the journey.
More than 1,300 people died trying to make the journey.
Migrants from South Asia in Tunisia after being rescued in the Mediterranean.
Migrants from South Asia in Tunisia after being rescued in the Mediterranean.

The report also cited findings from “reliable organisations” that about 87,000 migrants have been intercepted by the Libyan coastguard since 2016, including about 7,000 that are currently in centres run by the Department for Combating Illegal Migration.

“Our investigations have established that all parties to the conflict, including third-state foreign fighters and mercenaries, have violated international humanitarian law, in particular the principle of proportionality and distinction,” said Mohamed Auajjar, a former Moroccan justice minister who led the team.

“Some have also committed war crimes.”

Libya remains the most popular departure point for illegal crossings into southern Europe, the European Border and Guard Agency said. It added that there has been an up to 83 per cent increase in crossings in the past 21 months.

Last year was one of the deadliest for illegal migrants looking to arrive in Europe by sea or land, with at least 4,400 deaths reported by the UN. However, the real figure is feared to be much higher.

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance

Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWomen%E2%80%99s%20race%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Tigist%20Ketema%20(ETH)%202hrs%2016min%207sec%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Ruti%20Aga%20(ETH)%202%3A18%3A09%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Dera%20Dida%20(ETH)%202%3A19%3A29%0D%3Cbr%3EMen's%20race%3A%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Addisu%20Gobena%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A01%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lemi%20Dumicha%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A20%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20DejeneMegersa%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A42%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea
UAE currency
Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

While you're here
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Studying addiction

This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.

Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.

The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Updated: January 21, 2022, 8:12 PM`