In Libya: Ministry of interior restricts peaceful demonstrations

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information

ANHRI declared its deep concerns because of the release issued by the Libyan Ministry of Interior, which bans the demonstrations’ organizations or participating in it without a precedent permission from the Ministry.

ANHRI said: “This statement is a blatant infringement to the freedom of peaceful assembly, which the Libyan authorities have to guarantee it to the citizens, especially after the great revolution that took place in the country.”

The Libyan Ministry of Interior, issued a release, late Friday, July 13, 2012 stating “it must alert to all the Libyan citizens, bodies and civil society organizations, not to organize or participate in any demonstrations without prior permission from the ministry,”. The ministry added “the violators, who organize the demonstrations, whether they are individuals, bodies and civil society organizations, will be responsible for any chaos, disorder or any security breach may occur as a result”.

Prior, the Libyan authorities, on May 2, 2012, issued law No. 37 of 2012 which criminalize certain forms of political expression, including the “glorification of the tyrant Muammar Gaddafi and his sons”, “do anything touches revolution of February 17,” or the prestige of the Libyan institutions, before the Supreme Court judge that, on June 14, 2012, this law is unconstitutional because it places restrictions on freedom of expression.

It explained that “There is a big and clear difference between the attempt to regulate the constitutional rights and the attempt to abuse it. The Interior Ministry release belongs to the attempts of infringement and restraint, not to the attempt regulations.”

ANHRI called, the Libyan Ministry of Interior, to the immediate take back of the release and all that consequents, because it represents a clear violation of freedom of the Libyan people, who finally tasted it, after decades of deprivation and repression.

ANHRI stressed on the need to abolish all restrictions imposed on the freedom of opinion and expression and not to put any obstacles that could prevent the exercise of the right to peaceful demonstration, which the Libyan took it by the blood of Libyans their revolution’s martyrs”.