Seif hopes to tried fairly in Libya

Seif Al-Islam, a son of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, appeared in court yesterday in the town of Zintan, where he had been held since his capture by former rebels in November 2011. Seif Al-Islam, at the center of a legal tussle between Libya and the International Criminal Court (ICC), smiled and told reporters he was in good health during his brief appearance. The powerful armed group in Zintan, which spearheaded the capture of Tripoli from Qaddafi’s forces in August 2011, has insisted on keeping Seif Al-Islam imprisoned in the town, about 140 km southwest of the Libyan capital. Once Qaddafi’s presumed heir, Seif Al-Islam is wanted by the ICC on war crimes charges, but the case to be heard in Zintan relates to charges that he gave information to an ICC lawyer last year that could endanger national security. He was the only defendant of 13 people who were called to appear in court on those charges, confirming he was in the room when his name was called out and that his lawyers were present. The case was then postponed until September 19 because the defense’s case was incomplete. The ICC lawyer, Australian Melinda Taylor, was herself detained for three weeks after a meeting in which Seif Al-Islam is accused of handing over sensitive papers and information. Taylor has said her detention proved Seif Al-Islam could not get a fair trial in Libya. ICC lawyers also note that he could face the death penalty if convicted in the North African state. Libyan lawyer Ahmed Al-Jehani, who liaises between the ICC and the Tripoli government, said he expected the ICC to decide in May whether Libya can handle Seif Al-Islam’s trial and that of Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief Abdullah Al-Senoussi. “We have submitted a great deal of evidence and documentation to convince them we are able,” Jehani told Reuters, adding that the dossier included medical reports, confessions and witness statements. “No one can say whether he will get the death penalty,” he said when asked if Seif Al-Islam was at risk of being executed in Libya. “It is up to the judge,” he added. The president of Libya’s Human Rights Commission pointed to Seif Al-Islam’s appearance as an indication he was being looked after in jail and could be tried fairly within the country. “As you can see he is in good health... I can assure you he is being treated well and I wish that all of Libya’s detainees could have the same treatment,” Mohammad Al-Alagi said in Zintan. Source: Arabnews