Amnesty International this week called for annulment of the convictions of 11 Christians in Libya sentenced to prison under charges ranging from “insulting Islam” to calling for changes in principles of the constitution by promoting Christianity.
The trials of the 10 Libyan nationals and one Pakistani man were grossly unfair, marred by egregious violations of due process and international human rights standards, the rights watchdog asserted in a press statement on Tuesday (Aug. 12).
RELATED: Check out more stories on the persecuted church.
For more stories at your doorstep, subscribe to The Baptist Paper.
“Throughout the sessions of the trial, which started in September 2024, judges never examined witnesses or evidence against the defendants,” Amnesty stated. “They also never questioned any members of the ISA [Internal Security Agency], whose investigations were the only basis for the criminal investigations into the defendants. The hearings were limited to judges confirming the presence of the defendants and their lawyers requesting their release pending trial.”
The judges consistently ordered continued detention of the defendants without providing any justification and adjourned the hearings, Amnesty noted.
‘Insulting Islam’?
A Tripoli court on April 15 sentenced the nine Libyan men, one Libyan woman and one Pakistani man to prison terms ranging from three to 15 years on charges of “insulting Islam,” “insulting religious sanctities and rituals using the internet,” “calling for the establishment of a banned group” and “promoting the change of the fundamental principles of the constitution.”
The Christians were arrested by the notorious Tripoli-based ISA in March 2023 on allegations that they were involved in proselytizing Libyan Muslims. Among those arrested were two U.S. men who were released after two to three days without being charged, Amnesty stated.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
