Al-Sallabi calls for investigation into alleged torture of Saadi Gaddafi

Islamic scholar Ali Al-Sallabi, a member of the General Secretariat of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, strongly condemned the torture of prisoners in Libyan prisons which was revealed in video footage leaked from prisons under the control of the General National Congress.

In statements to Quds Press, Al-Sallabi called on the Libyan judiciary to conduct a “transparent and fair investigation” into the alleged torture of detainees affiliated with the old regime of Muammar Gaddafi. He also called for holding those responsible for torture in prison accountable.

“Torture contradicts the teachings of Islam, which came to honour man and preserve his dignity. In the Libyan case, a leaked video reveals that Saadi Gaddafi, the son of late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, was subjected to physical torture in one of Tripoli’s prisons that are controlled by militias affiliated to the [General National] Congress,” he said.

Al-Sallabi condemned the Saadi’s torture, saying that it repeats the “authoritarian behaviour that was ousted in the 17 February revolution.”

“Reproducing the torture methods that were adopted by dictatorial regimes cannot help in building a state that adopts the rule of law and institutions,” he said.

“Torture is condemned on religious, rational and political grounds,” it is a failed security choice that was adopted by dictatorial regimes. It has proven to be a failed method that is unable to protect regimes.”