Benghazi death triggers probe demand
The Libyan Crime Watch has asked the Attorney General to conduct an independent investigation into the death of 51-year-old Murad Mansour Al-Madhkoor in Benghazi.
The organisation states that Al-Madhkoor was shot by members of the 20/20 Battalion, which operates under the Tariq Bin Ziyad Brigade within Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army. The incident occurred at Al-Madhkoor's farm in the Sidi Faraj area.
Video footage reportedly shows two armed individuals in civilian clothing during the incident. Al-Madhkoor was taken to Venice Hospital, where the same individuals allegedly gained access and killed him whilst he was receiving medical treatment.
The Libyan Crime Watch reports that the incident followed a month of disputes between the victim's family and battalion members over land ownership. The family had declined to sell their property to members of the military unit.
Three of Al-Madhkoor's brothers were detained following the incident and later released without formal legal proceedings, according to the organisation.
The Libyan Crime Watch has characterised the death as an extrajudicial execution and cited international human rights law violations. The group has called on eastern Libyan authorities, including Haftar's command structure, to investigate the incident and address what it describes as civilian targeting.
The case occurs within Libya's complex political environment, where multiple authorities and armed groups have operated since the 2011 conflict that ended Muammar Gaddafi's rule. Various human rights organisations have documented incidents involving arbitrary detention and civilian deaths across different regions of the country.
The 20/20 Battalion forms part of the military structure in eastern Libya, operating under the Tariq Bin Ziyad Brigade within the broader coalition aligned with Haftar forces. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express.
How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@libyanexpress.com. Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
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