Freedom House Calls for al-Qadhafi’s Departure, Immediate End to Violence
Washington
As the conflict between anti-government protesters and supporters of authoritarian leader Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi continues, Freedom House reiterates its call for al-Qadhafi to step down and put an end to the violence.
Since February 15, 2011, protesters have been gathering in cities throughout Libya calling for al-Qadhafi to resign. The regime has responded aggressively, authorizing the use of violence against protesters. According to an estimate by the Libyan ambassador to the United States, as many as 2,000 Libyans have been killed. Al-Qadhafi continues to threaten the life of any individual who opposes his regime
“Freedom House is gravely concerned about the continuing violence in Libya and the safety of civilians throughout the country,” said Freedom House executive director David J. Kramer. “As thousands of Libyans and foreigners flee to the borders, we urge the United States, together with NATO and/or the United Nations to move ahead with a full range of measures to support the Libyan people in their struggle against al-Qadhafi, including the possibility of a no-fly zone over Libya. The time to act is now.”
Yesterday, the International Criminal Court announced it would launch an investigation into possible crimes against humanity in Libya’s crackdown against protesters.
“While Freedom House commends the strong sanctions imposed on Libya by the UN Security Council last week, we urge both the UN and the U.S. to continue to discuss with the opposition ways in which they can support their efforts,” said Paula Schriefer, Freedom House’s director of advocacy. “The people of Libya must know that the international community supports them in their fight for universally recognized human rights.”
Libya is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2011, Freedom House’s survey of political rights and civil liberties, and is consistently rated among the “World’s Most Repressive Societies” for receiving the lowest possible ratings in both the political rights and civil liberties categories. Libya is also ranked Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2010.
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