Latest news with #Türk
Libya Observer
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Libya Observer
UN Human Rights Chief calls for accountability over detention centers run by Libya's Stability Support Apparatus
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed shock over grave human rights violations uncovered at both official and unofficial detention facilities operated by the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) in Tripoli. In a statement published by the UN Mission in Libya, Türk called for the immediate closure of these facilities and urged Libyan authorities to launch prompt, independent, impartial, and transparent investigations. "Our worst fears are now being confirmed," Türk said. "Dozens of bodies have been discovered at these sites, alongside tools suspected of being used for torture and abuse, and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings." The High Commissioner also voiced distress over disturbing images and videos of these facilities circulating on social media, emphasizing the need to respect the dignity and privacy of the victims and the rights of their families. He urged Libyan authorities to grant the United Nations access to the sites as part of its mandate to document human rights violations. Türk further expressed concern over reports that Libya's criminal investigation authorities, responsible for exhuming and identifying human remains, have not yet been granted access to excavate the sites. He called on authorities to provide full and unhindered access to all locations. In May, forces affiliated with the 444 Brigade and the 111 Brigade stormed and took control of several SSA-run facilities following the killing of SSA chief Abdelghani Al-Kikli, known as "Ghneiwa." Tags: UN United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights United Nations human rights
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
UN demands probe after dozens of bodies found at Libya detention sites
The United Nations is calling for an independent investigation after the discovery of dozens of bodies and evidence of human rights violations at militia-run detention facilities in the Libyan capital of Tripoli. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said Wednesday he was 'shocked' by revelations of gross human rights violations uncovered at sites run by the Libyan militia SSA. He called for the sites to be immediately 'sealed off' and for Libyan authorities to conduct 'prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigations.' Formed in 2021, the SSA (Stabilization Support Apparatus) is an umbrella group of militias that is prominent in western Libya and has faced previous allegations of committing atrocities and human rights abuses in the violence that has wracked Libya since the fall of Moammar Gadhafi's regime more than a decade ago. 'The discoveries confirm the longstanding findings by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the former UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission… regarding the existence of such sites and the extent of violations committed in connection with them, including torture and enforced disappearances,' Türk said. Reports received by his office between May 18 and May 21 detail the excavation of 10 'charred bodies' at the SSA headquarters in the Abu Salim neighborhood in Tripoli. A further 67 bodies were discovered in refrigerators at Abu Salim and Al Khadra hospitals in the capital, with some of the remains said to be in an advanced state of decomposition due to power outages. A burial site was also reportedly discovered at the Tripoli Zoo, which is under SSA control. The identities of the victims remain unclear. Alongside the bodies, 'suspected instruments of torture and abuse, and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings' were uncovered. 'Our worst held fears are being confirmed,' Türk said. Türk stressed the critical need to preserve evidence. 'These sites must be sealed and all potential evidence preserved in support of immediate accountability efforts. Those responsible for these atrocious acts must be brought to justice without delay, in accordance with international standards.' He expressed concern that Libyan forensic authorities tasked with exhumation and identification have yet to be granted access to the sites, urging full and unimpeded access. Türk also called on Libya to grant the UN access to document the violations as part of its mandate. The High Commissioner condemned the circulation of 'horrifying images and video footage' of the sites on social media, insisting that the 'dignity and privacy of the victims and the rights of their families must be respected.' The grim discoveries follow the killing of SSA leader Abdulghani Kikli in May and subsequent clashes between state security forces and armed groups. These clashes sparked protests demanding an end to violence in Tripoli, which Türk noted were reportedly met with 'unnecessary force,' resulting in civilian and police officer deaths and damage to property, including hospitals. This raises 'serious concerns with respect to the guarantee of the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the need to protect civic space,' Türk said. Libya has been entangled in a political crisis since the overthrow of longtime dictator Gaddafi in 2011, which led to the proliferation of armed groups across the country. Although a ceasefire agreement in October 2020 brought temporary relief, Libya remains divided with various rival armed groups attempting to control the capital.
Libya Review
a day ago
- General
- Libya Review
UN Slams Libya over Abuse in Tripoli Detention Sites
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has expressed deep shock over newly uncovered evidence of serious human rights violations in both official and unofficial detention facilities operated by the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) in Tripoli, Libya. In a statement released this week, Türk called for the immediate closure of these sites, urging the Libyan authorities to launch independent, impartial, and transparent investigations into the reported abuses and to preserve all potential evidence in support of swift accountability. 'Our worst fears have been confirmed,' Türk said. 'Dozens of bodies have reportedly been found at these facilities. Those responsible for these atrocities must be brought to justice without delay, in accordance with international standards.' The findings align with previous reports issued by both the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the former UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission, which documented the existence of secret detention centers and the widespread abuse within them. Türk also called on Libyan authorities to grant UN investigators full access to the detention sites as part of the UN's mandate to document human rights violations across the country. In addition, the High Commissioner urged immediate and comprehensive investigations into the recent killing of the SSA's leader, as well as all violations committed by any actors, regardless of their political or military affiliations. He praised efforts by Libya's Presidential Council's Ceasefire Committee, facilitated by UNSMIL, to maintain the fragile ceasefire amid rising tensions in Tripoli following these revelations. The SSA, a powerful armed group nominally affiliated with Libya's outgoing Government of National Unity, has long faced allegations of extrajudicial practices, arbitrary detention, and abuse. Tags: Detention SitesHuman Rightslibyatripoli
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Health
- Time Magazine
27 Palestinians Killed by Israeli Fire Near Aid Hub, Gaza Officials Say
At least 27 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday by Israeli fire as they tried to collect aid near a distribution hub in Rafah, according to Gaza's health ministry and witnesses. It marks the third deadly incident in three days around the Rafah aid hub run by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a controversial Israeli- and U.S.-backed group that was established last month to replace U.N. agencies and other aid organizations. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on X that it is 'aware of reports regarding casualties, and the details of the incident are being looked into.' 'Troops identified several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated routes. The troops carried out warning fire, and after the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near individual suspects,' the statement added. The U.N. and other aid agencies have blasted the new aid distribution system, saying it does not address the mounting hunger crisis in Gaza and allows Israel to use aid as a weapon. 'Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel's militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism,' U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said Tuesday. Türk called for a 'prompt and impartial investigation.' 'Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime,' he added. Israel has said the new aid system allows it to prevent Hamas from stealing aid, but has provided no evidence of a systemic siphoning of supplies. The head of GHF, Jake Wood, resigned on May 25 saying it would not be able to work in a way that met 'humanitarian principles.' GHF began operations the following day. On May 27, at least one Palestinian was killed and 48 wounded as desperate crowds scrambled to collect aid at the new GHF hub in Rafah, according to Gaza's health ministry and witnesses. On Sunday, June 1, at least 31 Palestinians were killed and nearly 170 injured near the GHF distribution site in Rafah, Gaza's health ministry said. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement its field hospital in Rafah received a 'mass casualty influx' and that the majority had sustained shrapnel and gunshot wounds. 'Once again, desperate hungry civilians get killed & injured while trying to reach aid. It should be delivered to them safely & with dignity,' ICRC spokesperson Hisham Mhanna said in a post on X. The IDF said in a June 1 statement on X that it 'did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site and that reports to this effect are false.' On Monday, June 2, at least three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire near a GHF aid hub in Rafah, according to Gaza's health ministry. The IDF said in a statement that 'warning shots were fired toward several suspects who advanced toward' troops about 0.6 mi. from the site. The new GHF aid distribution system follows a two month blockade from Israel, in which essential food and medical supplies have dwindled, worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Food security experts have warned of a 'critical risk of famine.' The new aid distribution model comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement on May 18 that Israel would ease the blockade and let in a 'basic' amount of food to Gaza. The comments came hours after Israel launched a major ground offensive.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Türk Appeals For End To Daily Killing And Destruction In Ukraine
GENEVA (26 May 2025) – The killing and injuring of dozens of civilians over the weekend, mainly in attacks launched by Russian armed forces, underscores the urgent need to end the conflict in Ukraine and to commit to the steps necessary to achieve a lasting peace, in line with international law, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said today. Since Friday, nightly Russian attacks with record numbers of long-range missiles and drones have killed and injured civilians across Ukraine. According to information gathered by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), at least 14 civilians, including three children, were reportedly killed and 88, including 11 children, injured. The majority of those killed and injured were in major cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv, or in populated areas in other regions. Large numbers of long-range drones launched into the Russian Federation by Ukrainian armed forces injured at least 11 civilians over the weekend, according to Russian authorities. 'It is time to put an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, to commit to - and implement - a comprehensive ceasefire that stops the daily killing and destruction, and to start genuine peace negotiations, built on respect for international law,' said Türk. 'To achieve a sustainable solution, it is imperative to put people and their human rights first. The needs and rights of those most affected by the conflict, including prisoners of war (POWs), civilian detainees, deported and forcibly transferred children, the displaced and those living in occupied territory of Ukraine, must be at the centre of the discussions around peace,' the High Commissioner said. In recent days, 880 prisoners of war and 120 civilians from each side have been exchanged. Most of the civilians appeared to have been detainees, but details on individuals included in the exchange are not yet available. 'Many families can now breathe a sigh of relief because their loved ones have finally returned home. But at the same time, other families have lost relatives and their homes, as their communities across Ukraine came under attack,' Türk said. The High Commissioner highlighted that, even amid ongoing hostilities, people deprived of their liberty must be protected. Summary executions, torture and all forms of inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners are always prohibited, in any circumstances, and must stop immediately. In addition, he stressed that civilian detainees should be released as soon as the lawful reason for their detention ceases to exist, and their protection against refoulement must be ensured. Practical measures to strengthen the protection of POWs and civilian detainees include enabling regular correspondence with their families, establishing Mixed Medical Commissions to visit and assess the health of POWs, and granting and improving the access of independent monitors, including the UN Human Rights Office, to places of internment and detention. Background: The UN Human Rights Office has monitored and reported on the human rights situation in Ukraine since 2014. It has in total interviewed more than 1,700 current and former POWs and civilian detainees on both sides. The Office has verified that at least 13,134 civilians have been killed and 31,867 injured since the Russian federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
