Libya

The Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is an authoritarian regime led by Colonel Mu’ammar Al-Qadhafi since 1969. In theory citizens rule the country through a pyramid of congresses, committees, and communes; however, in practice, Qadhafi and his inner circle monopolize political power. The government’s human rights record remained poor. An extensive security services network, lack of an independent judiciary, and rigid government control of the media stifled political reform and denied citizens some basic civil liberties. Security forces operated without judicial restraint; they tortured and detained individuals without formal charges and held some detainees incommunicado, often without charge or trial. Corruption and impunity were widespread. Government control of the media, prohibitions on the establishment of independent human rights organizations, and a continued ban on political parties precluded freedom of speech or assembly. Minority religions, women, and tribal minorities encountered some government repression and societal discrimination. The government denied basic worker rights and did not prevent discrimination against foreign workers. US human rights and democracy work in the country aimed to empower citizens to play a more active role in their government and to secure basic civil liberties for all inhabitants. On May 31, the United States upgraded its diplomatic representation to an Embassy. On June 30, it rescinded the country’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and a country not fully cooperating with US counterterrorism efforts. To promote human rights and democracy effectively, the United States continued to normalize bilateral relations and foster a meaningful and multifaceted relationship to address human rights concerns. The United States strengthened working relations with key local actors, advocated for greater transparency in government decision-making, promoted enhanced respect for the rule of law, and identified and supported nascent civil society actors. The United States regularly raised human rights issues at senior levels within the government by urging adherence to international human rights standards and publicly condemning the country’s human rights abuses. The government maintained complete restrictions on all political activities by banning all political parties, criminalizing membership in any association not approved by the government, and preventing meaningful elections for any public office. US officials routinely advocated for greater transparency of government decision-making and greater public participation in political life. From April 17 to 25, the United States facilitated the first National Democratic Institute visit to the country to begin preparations for future work on electoral and constitutional reform. The United States consistently supported greater media freedom, particularly focusing on the distribution of foreign media within the country. On July 1, a quasi-official government body began to allow the distribution of some foreign publications. In addition to urging more regular access to foreign publications, US officials advocated greater professionalism of journalists by nominating for the first time a television correspondent for an International Visitor Leadership Program focusing on investigative journalism. Since the government prohibits the establishment of truly independent NGOs, US efforts centered on identifying and supporting nascent civil society individuals and organizations that may develop into NGOs. The United States sponsored the director of a quasi-official NGO focusing on disaster relief on an exchange visit to learn how US NGOs manage assistance operations and how his own organization could provide better humanitarian services in the country and abroad. US officials also supported international NGOs looking to travel to or work in the country. The United States called for respect of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary from political pressure or outright manipulation. US officials supported government plans to hold retrials for Muslim Brotherhood members held in prison since 1988. On March 2, the government released 86 members of the Muslim Brotherhood and 46 other political prisoners. During the year the United States arranged for a member of the Supreme Judicial Council, an official entity outside of the justice system that reviews court decisions for political implications, to participate in a visitor’s program on the US legal system and judicial independence. The United States nominated a prominent lawyer specializing in women’s issues for a similar program. The United States consistently raised the issue of political prisoners, including the continued detention of democracy advocate and outspoken regime critic Fathi al-Jahmi. The United States collaborated with international counterparts to encourage fair and humane treatment for six foreign medical personnel accused of intentionally infecting more than 400 Libyan children with HIV in 1999. US participation facilitated the 2005 establishment of the International Benghazi Families Support Fund to assist the infected children. Throughout a retrial between May 15 and December 19, US officials routinely stressed the importance of ensuring the medical personnel receive a fair trial, access to their lawyers, and access to any evidence against them. After a court again sentenced the health workers to death on December 19, the US continued to urge additional judicial review of the court decision, with an emphasis on the consideration of all pertinent evidence in the case. The United States urged that a means should be found to allow the medics to go home. To promote women’s rights, the United States nominated a pioneering female engineer at the Libyan National Oil Company for an exchange program focusing on women as economic and business leaders. Beyond working to modernize administrative practices in the state-owned oil firm, the nominee plays a key role in economic reform through her seat on the National Economic Planning Council. The United States promoted religious freedom by sending the head of the Islamic studies faculty at a major Libyan university to the United States on a visitor’s program focusing on religious tolerance and interfaith communication. A US-funded program aimed to raise government officials’ capacity to combat human trafficking and to raise awareness of trafficking in society.