Libyan parliament called for not releasing political prisoners

Commander of the Western Military Region of the Libyan Army Command, Colonel Edris Madi, issued a military order to  dissolve Abubaker Siddiq Battalion, saying that the battalion has been cancelled, as its weapons and equipment in addition to individuals have been annexed to the leadership of the western area.

Libya's Committee of Defense and National Security on Sunday called on the Libyan parliament not to release political prisoners before verdicts. The committee issued a statement after Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late toppled leader Muammar Gaddafi, was freed Saturday after being detained for six years.

"Those who are detaining former regime officials are not entitled to release any of them until after clear verdicts have been issued acquitting them of all charges, in order to safeguard the security of the country," the statement said.

A militia from the city of Zintan which was detaining Gaddafi announced that his release was based on an amnesty law issued by the eastern-based parliament in 2015 that included all Libyans. "This is an attempt by the House of Representatives and the Committee of Defense and National Security to contribute to the stability of national peace and the preservation of the social fabric," the statement said.

The Zintan military and city councils condemned the release of Gaddafi, describing it as "collusion and betrayal of the sacrifices of the martyrs and a stab to the military establishment." Gaddafi was arrested in November 2011 by an armed group from Zintan while he was attempting to flee Libya toward Niger. Since then, he was held in a secret prison in the city.

The Tripoli appeals court sentenced the 45-year-old son of Gaddafi to death in July 2015 in absentia after he was convicted of suppressing the 2011 uprising. Meanwhile, the parliament based in the eastern city of Tobruk declared it does not recognize the court's verdicts, claiming the court was "run by militias and an illegitimate government," in reference to the government appointed by the outgoing parliament in Tripoli.

Former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam has been released after six years of being in a militia group’s custody.

A statement issued by the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Battalion, an armed militia group that controls the town of Zintan in western Libya, said that Saif al-Islam had been freed on Friday evening under an amnesty law enacted by the parliament based in the country’s east.

“We have decided to liberate Saif al-Islam Muammar Gaddafi. He is now free and has left the city of Zintan,” the statement said.