NTC rebel operatives holding former Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi have been accused of beating and torturing him. There is an international appeal to bring about his release., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Urgent Appeal To The International Community
Demand Immediate Intervention To Save The Life Of Dr. Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi
Posted on June 27, 2012
Alexandra Valiente
Libya 360°
Viva Libya!
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF EVENTS
Marcel Ceccaldi, a French lawyer acting on behalf of Dr. Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, stated that within hours after his extradition to Libya, his client was tortured. He had been taken to Tripoli's Mitiga military airport where Libyan security officers proceeded to beat him until he was critically injured, with broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Marcel Ceccaldi added that with regards to assurances given to Tunisian authorities by Libya's National Transitional Council of humane treatment and a fair trial, the agreement was breached within hours of Dr. al-Mahmoudi's arrival. He was informed that Dr. al-Mahmoudi was in a coma. He is presently in hospital under guard. (The Guardian)
According to Reuters, Mabrouk Khorchid, Mahmoudi's lawyer in Tunisia, said neither he nor Dr. Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi's family had been given any prior warning that he was about to be extradited.
"I believe this is a state crime and is against human rights," he said. "This is a sad moment for human rights in Tunisia. I think he's going to be tortured and treated illegally and believe that those who handed him over bear part of the responsibility." (Reuters)
Members of the Defence Committee of Baghdadi Mahmoudi told Tunis Afrique Presse that their client was transferred from the Prison of Mornaguia to the Military Airport of Aouina at 5 a.m. ahead of his extradition to Libya.
They regard the entire operation as "illegal" and stated that it was conducted in a "surreptitious" way "without informing either the committee members or the family of their client."
Mr. Maher Amayed described the decision taken by the Interim Prime Ministry to extradite Baghdadi Mahmoudi as a violation of all the laws and commitments of Tunisia to international human rights defense organizations.
Conditions on the protection of extradited persons were not guaranteed, he added, saying that a government delegation had visited Libya two days ago without however making public its report on guarantees required in the extradition, contrary to what had been indicated by the President of the Republic a few weeks ago." (Baghdadi Mahmoudi's Defence Committee Considers His Extradition 'Unlawful')
In January, 15 Tunisian and international human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, signed a statement opposing Al-Mahmoudi's extradition, saying he risked death or torture if he was returned to Libya.
International Law is clear regarding extraditions.
"The principle of non-refoulement constitutes the cornerstone of international refugee protection. It is enshrined in Article 33 of the 1951 Convention, which is also binding on States Party to the 1967 Protocol.5 Article 33(1) of the 1951 Convention provides:
"No Contracting State shall expel or return ("refouler") a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his [or her] life or freedom would be threatened on account of his [or her] race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion."
The prohibition of refoulement to a danger of persecution under international refugee law is applicable to any form of forcible removal, including deportation, expulsion, extradition, informal transfer or "renditions", and non-admission at the border in the circumstances described below. This is evident from the wording of Article 33(1) of the 1951 Convention, which refers to expulsion or return (refoulement) "in any manner whatsoever". It applies not only in respect of return to the country of origin or, in the case of a stateless person, the country of former habitual residence, but also to any other place where a person has reason to fear threats to his or her life or freedom related to one or more of the grounds set out in the 1951 Convention, or from where he or she risks being sent to such a risk.
The principle of non-refoulement as provided for in Article 33(1) of the 1951 Convention does not, as such, entail a right of the individual to be granted asylum in a particular State. It does mean, however, that where States are not prepared to grant asylum to persons who are seeking international protection on their territory, they must adopt a course that does not result in their removal, directly or indirectly, to a place where their lives or freedom would be in danger on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. As a general rule, in order to give effect to their obligations under the 1951 Convention and/or 1967 Protocol, States will be required to grant individuals seeking international protection access to the territory and to fair and efficient asylum procedures. " (Advisory Opinion on the Extraterritorial Application of Non-Refoulement Obligations under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol* )
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, PEOPLE OF CONSCIENCE APPEAL
Given the facts that;
•Dr. Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi's extradition to Libya violated International Law,
•that the Libyan National Transitional Council flagrantly violated the agreement made with Tunisian authorities when they granted assurances that Dr. Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi would be humanely treated, guaranteed a fail trial and not executed,
•that he was tortured and critically injured within hours after his arrival in Libya,
•that the Libyan National Transitional Council have denied Dr. Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi access to his legal counsel,
•that the International Red Cross and Human Rights organizations have been denied access to Dr. Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi in order to assess his condition,
•that the Libyan National Transitional Council are notorious for their well documented, excessive human rights abuses, including torture and execution of prisoners with differing political views, denying prisoners access to legal counsel, and are incapable of conducting fair and lawful trials,
As People of Conscience, We demand that The United Nations, The European Union, The African Union, The International Criminal Court, the World Governments and International Human Rights Organizations and specifically, The Government of Tunisia and The Libyan Transitional Government (NTC), ensure that the rights of Dr. Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi are upheld in full compliance with International norms and that there be prompt intervention to protect him from further harm and ensure his urgent medical needs are attended to.
We also demand that Human Rights Organizations and The International Red Cross (Crescent) have immediate access to Dr. Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi, that they might document what has taken place and use every power available to them to remove Dr. Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi from Libya, taking him under their protection while his legal counsel can make more suitable arrangements.
We demand that Dr. Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi be granted immediate unobstructed and unconditional access to his chosen legal counsel in accordance with International Law as defined in, THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
•Statement Of The Libyan People's National Movement On The Criminal Extradition Of al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi
•Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi Tortured And In Hospital
•In Violation Of International Law, Tunisia Extradites Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi To Libya
•Dr. Baghadi Al-Mahmoudi's Press Statements
•Statement Of The Libyan People's National Movement On The Criminal Extradition Of al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi
•Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi Tortured And In Hospital
•Extradition To Libya = Extradition To Torture
•Tunisian Human Rights Group: Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi Faces Torture And Death If Extradited To Libya
•Tunisie: l'extradition de l'ex-Premier ministre libyen Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi est "irrévocable"
•'Tunisia Will Not Extradite Al-Mahmoudi If It Feels His Life In Danger'
•Tunisian Court Approves Extradition Of Former Libyan Government Official, Milad Abdul Salam
•Tunisia: Courts To Release Baghdadi Mahmoudi
•Tunisia Must Stop Returning Asylum Seekers To Libya
•Stop The Extradition of Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi
•Former Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmoudi Is In Serious Condition In Tunisia Baghdadi Al Mahmoudi's Lawyer Demands His Immediate Release
•Tunisia Violating International Law by Extraditing Baghdadi Mahmoudi
Our Targets Are:
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
United Nations New York
NY 10017 USA
212-963-5012
fax: 212-963-7055
ecu@un.org
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
High Commissioner Ms. Navanethem Pillay
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
infoDesk@ohchr.org
Amnesty International
+44 (0) 20 7413 5566 +44 7778 472 126
gvunpost@amnesty.org
press@amnesty.org
amnesty-eu@aieu.be
mena@amnesty.org
ai-aro@amnesty.org
msk@amnesty.org
Amnesty International - Individuals At Risk
iar@amnesty.org.uk
Human Rights Watch
350 Fifth Avenue
34th floor New York
NY 10118-3299 USA
Tel: +1 212 290 4700
Fax: +1 212 736 1300
hrwnyc@hrw.org
51, Avenue Blanc
1202 Geneva Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 738 0481
Fax: +41 22 738 1791
hrwgva@hrw.org
2-12 Pentonville Road 2nd Floor
London N1 9HF
UK Tel: +44 20 7713 1995
Fax: +44 20 7713 1800
hrwuk@hrw.org
Human Rights Watch, Middle East and North Africa Division
salahh@hrw.org
Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights Council of Europe
Strasbourg, FRANCE
+ 33 (0)3 88 41 34 21
+ 33 (0)3 90 21 50 53
press.commissioner@coe.int
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
19 Avenue de la paix CH 1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 734 60 01 Fax: +41 22 733 20 57
webmaster@icrc.org
ICRC delegations: Libya
These are the key ICRC contacts to target:
sanderson@icrc.org
hihassan@icrc.org
ICRC delegation
Ibrahim Al Houni Street
10.53.050
Diagonally Opposite Brother's Clinic (Al Okhowa)
Nouflieen,TRIPOLI
Phone: (+218) 21 3409 331, +218 21 340 92 62
mobile: (+218) 91 941 80 66, +218 92 523 65 82
tri_tripoli@icrc.org
Head of delegation:
Mr Georges Comninos
Media contact person:
Ms MESSOUDI Soaade
(+218) 913 066 198
Languages spoken: English/French/Arabic
ICRC Benghazi Al Andalus Street, Al Fwihat, Benghazi, LIBYA
Phone:( + 218) 92 807 7405
Head of offce: Mr. Patrick Schwaerzler
ben_benghazi@icrc.org
Media contact person:
Ms Dibeh FAKHR Mobile:
+218 (0) 92 330 4560 Sat: +870 772 390 124
Languages spoken: English/French/Arabic/Spanish
GOVERNMENT EMAIL ADDRESSES
ChinaMissionUN@Gmail.com, rusun@un.int, India@un.int, portugal@un.int, contact@lebanonun.org, chinesemission@yahoo.com, delbrasonu@delbrasonu.org, siumara@delbrasonu.org, bihun@mfa.gov.ba, colombia@colombiaun.org, pmun.newyork@dirco.gov.za, perm.mission@nigerdeleg.org, aumission_ny@yahoo.com, presidentrsa@po.gov.za, info@new-york-un.diplo.de, dsatsia@gabon-un.org, LamamraR@africa-union.org, waneg@africa-union.org, JoinerDJ@africa-union.org, gabon@un.int, Nigeria@un.int, unsc-nowar@gmx.com, i_chunfu@mfa.gov.cn; li_guixi@mfa.gov.cn; sun_xiaobai@mfa.gov.cn; zhu_jing3@mfa.gov.cn; he_yan@mfa.gov.cn; cnnyconsulate@mfa.gov.cn; lu_kang@mfa.gov.cn; zhang_lei1@mfa.gov.cn; jks3@mfa.gov.cn; guo_xiaofeng@mfa.gov.cn;mission@algeria-un.org, themission@angolaun.org, unmission@abgov.org, nyconsulate@abgov.org, argentina@un.int, mission@bahamasny.com, newyork@bahrainmission.org, bangladesh@un.int, belmission.contact@gmail.com, belarus@un.int, newyorkUN@diplobel.fed.be, newyorkUN@diplobel.be, blzun@belizemission.com, beninewyork@gmail.com, bhutan@un.int, delbrasonu@delbrasonu.org, info@bruneiembassy.org, cambodia@un.int, canada@un.int, prmny@international.gc.ca, capeverde@un.int, contacto@chileabroad.gov.cl, chinamission_un@fmprc.gov.cn, colombia@colombiaun.org, comoros@un.int, congo@un.int, missioncostaricaun@yahoo.com, cotedivoire@un.int, cotedivoiremission@yahoo.com, cyprus@un.int, nycmis@um.dk, djibouti@nyct.net, domun@onecommonwealth.org, drun@un.int, missionecuador@nyct.net, elsalvador@un.int, equatorialguineamission@yahoo.com, Mission.NewYork@mfa.ee, ethiopia@un.int, mission@fijiprun.org, sanomat.yke@formin.fi, france@franceonu.org, gabon@un.int, gambia@un.int, ghanaperm@aol.com, info@greeceun.org, grenada@un.int, guyana@un.int, haiti@un.int, honduras_un@hotmail.com, new.missions@kum.hu, titkarsag.new@kum.hu, unmission@mfa.is, india@un.int, ind_general@indiaun.net, ptri@indonesiamission-ny.org, iran@un.int, info.italyun@esteri.it, jamaica@un.int, missionun@jordanmissionun.com, kazakhstan@un.int, infokenya@kenyaun.org, jojiambo@kenyaun.org, jmugodo@kenyaun.org, ssalim@kenyaun.org, kabagerobert@kenyaun.org, lao@un.int, mission.un-ny@mfa.gov.lv, lebanon@nyct.net, postmaster@liberia-un.org, ltuun@undp.org, newyork.rp@mae.etat.lu, repermad@verizon.net, MalawiU@aol.com, MalawiNewyork@aol.com, malnyun@kln.gov.my, malionu@aol.com, marshallislands@un.int, mauritania@un.int, mauritius@un.int, mongolia@un.int, mozambique@un.int, myanmarmission@verizon.net, namibia@un.int, nepal@un.int, netherlands@un.int, nicaragua@un.int, nigerun@aol.com, delun@mfa.no, oman@un.int, info@pakun.org, mission.pakistan@ties.itu.int, mission@palauun.org, paraguay@un.int, onuper@unperu.org, newyork.pm@dfa.gov.ph, newyorkpm@gmail.com, nowyjork.onz.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl, korea@un.int, unmoldova@aol.com, misiune@romaniaun.org, romania@un.int, rusun@un.int, sknmission@aol.com, mission@svg-un.org, samoa@un.int, senegal.mission@yahoo.fr, seychelles@un.int, sierraleone@un.int, sierraleonemission@verizon.net, singpm_nyc@sgmfa.gov.sg, un.newyork@mzv.sk, mny@gov.si, simun@foreignaffairs-solomons.org, somalia@un.int, mail@slmission.com, sudan@sudanmission.org, suriname@un.int, swaziland@un.int, sweden@un.int, vertretung-UN@nyc.rep.admin.ch, syrianmission@verizonmail.com, tajikistan@un.int, tajikistanun@verizon.net, thailand@un.int, tto@un.int, turkmenistan@un.int, tuvalu@onecommonwealth.org, info@ugandamissionunny.net, ugandaunny@un.int, uae@uaemission.com, tzny@tanzania-un.org, uruguay@un.int, uzbekistan@un.int, vanunmis@aol.com, misionvene@venezuelaonu.gob.ve, info@vietnam-un.org, zambia@un.int, zimbabwe@un.int;li_chunfu@mfa.gov.cn; li_guixi@mfa.gov.cn; sun_xiaobai@mfa.gov.cn; zhu_jing3@mfa.gov.cn; he_yan@mfa.gov.cn; cnnyconsulate@mfa.gov.cn; lu_kang@mfa.gov.cn; zhang_lei1@mfa.gov.cn; jks3@mfa.gov.cn; guo_xiaofeng@mfa.gov.cn;
UNITED NATIONS EMAIL ADDRESSES
mission@algeria-un.org, themission@angolaun.org, unmission@abgov.org, nyconsulate@abgov.org, argentina@un.int, mission@bahamasny.com, newyork@bahrainmission.org, bangladesh@un.int, belmission.contact@gmail.com, belarus@un.int, newyorkUN@diplobel.fed.be, newyorkUN@diplobel.be, blzun@belizemission.com, beninewyork@gmail.com, bhutan@un.int, delbrasonu@delbrasonu.org, info@bruneiembassy.org, cambodia@un.int, canada@un.int, prmny@international.gc.ca, capeverde@un.int, contacto@chileabroad.gov.cl, chinamission_un@fmprc.gov.cn, colombia@colombiaun.org, comoros@un.int, congo@un.int, missioncostaricaun@yahoo.com, cotedivoire@un.int, cotedivoiremission@yahoo.com, cyprus@un.int, nycmis@um.dk, djibouti@nyct.net, domun@onecommonwealth.org, drun@un.int, missionecuador@nyct.net, elsalvador@un.int, equatorialguineamission@yahoo.com, Mission.NewYork@mfa.ee, ethiopia@un.int, mission@fijiprun.org, sanomat.yke@formin.fi, france@franceonu.org, gabon@un.int, gambia@un.int, ghanaperm@aol.com, info@greeceun.org, grenada@un.int, guyana@un.int, haiti@un.int, honduras_un@hotmail.com, new.missions@kum.hu, titkarsag.new@kum.hu, unmission@mfa.is, india@un.int, ind_general@indiaun.net, ptri@indonesiamission-ny.org, iran@un.int, info.italyun@esteri.it, jamaica@un.int, missionun@jordanmissionun.com, kazakhstan@un.int, infokenya@kenyaun.org, jojiambo@kenyaun.org, jmugodo@kenyaun.org, ssalim@kenyaun.org, kabagerobert@kenyaun.org, lao@un.int, mission.un-ny@mfa.gov.lv, lebanon@nyct.net, postmaster@liberia-un.org, ltuun@undp.org, newyork.rp@mae.etat.lu, repermad@verizon.net, MalawiU@aol.com, MalawiNewyork@aol.com, malnyun@kln.gov.my, malionu@aol.com, marshallislands@un.int, mauritania@un.int, mauritius@un.int, mongolia@un.int, mozambique@un.int, myanmarmission@verizon.net, namibia@un.int, nepal@un.int, netherlands@un.int, nicaragua@un.int, nigerun@aol.com, delun@mfa.no, oman@un.int, info@pakun.org, mission.pakistan@ties.itu.int, mission@palauun.org, paraguay@un.int, onuper@unperu.org, newyork.pm@dfa.gov.ph, newyorkpm@gmail.com, nowyjork.onz.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl, korea@un.int, unmoldova@aol.com, misiune@romaniaun.org, romania@un.int, rusun@un.int, sknmission@aol.com, mission@svg-un.org, samoa@un.int, senegal.mission@yahoo.fr, seychelles@un.int, sierraleone@un.int, sierraleonemission@verizon.net, singpm_nyc@sgmfa.gov.sg, un.newyork@mzv.sk, mny@gov.si, simun@foreignaffairs-solomons.org, somalia@un.int, mail@slmission.com, sudan@sudanmission.org, suriname@un.int, swaziland@un.int, sweden@un.int, vertretung-UN@nyc.rep.admin.ch, syrianmission@verizonmail.com, tajikistan@un.int, tajikistanun@verizon.net, thailand@un.int, tto@un.int, turkmenistan@un.int, tuvalu@onecommonwealth.org, info@ugandamissionunny.net, ugandaunny@un.int, uae@uaemission.com, tzny@tanzania-un.org, uruguay@un.int, uzbekistan@un.int, vanunmis@aol.com, misionvene@venezuelaonu.gob.ve, info@vietnam-un.org, zambia@un.int, zimbabwe@un.int
International Media Contacts:
letters@msnbc.com
onlyonfox@foxnews.com
editor@nypost.com
editor@nypost.com
stella.dawson@reuters.com
contact@lefigaro.fr
mail@mondepub.fr
letters@examiner.ie
letters@thetimes.co.uk
insight@sunday-times.co.uk
letters@guardian.co.uk
mena@amnesty.org
gvunpost@amnesty.org
ai-aro@amnesty.org
msk@amnesty.org
hrwnyc@hrw.org
berlin@hrw.org
press.commissioner@coe.int
stella.dawson@reuters.com
mail@mondepub.fr
letters@examiner.ie
Letters@thetimes.co.uk
insight@sunday-times.co.uk
letters@guardian.co.uk
hrwgva@hrw.org
rusun.press@gmail.com
rusun@un.int
press@amnesty.org
blatche@hrw.org
paris@hrw.org
international@guardian.co.uk
foreigneditor@independent.co.uk
foreign@washpost.com
aji-london-newsdesk@aljazeera.net
anthea.lipsett@guardian.co.uk
news@standard.co.uk
newseditor@independent.co.uk
news@dailymirror.co.uk
press.int@aljazeera.net
londonnews@bbc.co.uk
news@sky.com
jon.snow@itn.co.uk
politics.editor@london-student.net
politics@guardian.co.uk
englishnews@alarabiya.net
laura.tait@newsint.co.uk
bo.wilson@thelondonlite.co.uk
bccreports@socialistworker.co.uk
info@electronicintifada.net
editorial@camdennewjournal.co.uk
news.london@ukmetro.co.uk
5live.planning@bbc.co.uk
5newsdesk@itn.co.uk
fourmanfilms@hotmail.co.uk
filkaler@googlemail.com
stguest2@sunday-times.co.uk
news@standard.co.uk
cceditor@standard.co.uk
d.macleod@guardian.co.uk
r.mccarthy@guardian.co.uk
reports@socialistworker.co.uk
worldwidetv.letters@bbc.co.uk
mschwanhausser@sjmercury.com
insidetrack@toronto.cbc.ca
jonathannicholas@news.oregonian.com
jennifer.ruark@chronicle.com
tpugh@krwashington.com
JWeeks@dallasnews.com
submissions@commondreams.org
lbeil@dallasnews.com
kathy.kristof@latimes.com
This appeal campaign is © Copyright by Libya 360° and Viva Libya!. Republication is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the author. You are however permitted, encouraged and welcome to post the link to the original letter of appeal and petition. On behalf of Libya's political prisoners, we thank you for your support and cooperation.
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