Ethiopians suffering in Libya prisons

Several Ethiopian women and men are suffering in Libya detention centre. Addis Dimts radio host, Abebe Belew managed to interview these prisoners, who had been tortured and starved. These Ethiopian prisoners are held in life-threatening facilities lacking adequate food, drinking water, sewage facilities and medical care, one of women prisoner told to Addis Dimts, “we don’t even have menstrual pad… we are using piece of unclean cloths”. Among prisoners’ most common complaints is that Libya police are torturing men prisoners in regular basis.

This is A Must Listen listen the interview with these prisoners (starts from 50 minutes) and take urgent action.

Action Required…

1) Write to Mr Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees High Commissioner to take urgent action regarding the state of the Ethiopian refugees in Libya. 2) Write to HE Mr Ali Aujali, Libya’s ambassador to the United States 3) Write to HE Mr Omar R Jelban, The People’s Bureau of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 4) Write to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country requesting them to appeal for the welfare of the refugees in Libya.

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Sample Letter to UNHCR Mr Antonio Guterres

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Date]

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees High Commissioner Mr Antonio Guterres Case Postale 2500 CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt Suisse.

Dear Mr Antonio Guterres,

Re: Ethiopian Refugees in Libya Facing Torture / Forcible Return to Their Homeland

I am very concerned about the welfare of the Ethiopian refugees detained in Libya, who are currently facing impending deportation to Ethiopia where they may be arrested and tortured upon arrival.

According to reports by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, several hundred Ethiopians are currently detained in different detention centers. There are detainees from other sub-Saharan African countries as well. The detainees are held in deplorable conditions; they are not provided with proper food, drink or medical facilities. Further, many detainees have reportedly been physically and sexually abused by the prison security guards. Some of women prisoners are with their kids in detention center.

The Libyan authorities have already deported many of these refugees to their countries of origin where they may have faced ill-treatment. By doing so, Libya is in breach of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Organization of African Unity Convention to which it is a state party.

I request you to investigate this case and urge the Libyan authorities to treat the refugees in accordance with international human rights standards.

I look forward to hearing from you soon on this urgent matter,

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Name]

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The Libyan Liaison Office is located at 20037 (tel. 202-944-9601, fax 202-944-9060)

Sample Letter to HE Mr Ali Aujali, Libya’s ambassador to the United States Tel. +202-944-9601

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Date]

The People’s Bureau of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya HE Mr Ali Aujali,

2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington DC 20037

Dear Mr Ali Aujali, Libya’s ambassador to the United States,

Assalam Alykum,

Re: Ethiopian Refugees in Libya Facing Torture / Forcible Return to Their Homeland

I am very concerned about the welfare of the Ethiopian refugees detained in Misratah, Libya, who are currently facing impending deportation to Ethiopia where they may be arrested and tortured upon arrival.

According to reports by the Wasington DC radio program, several hundred Ethiopians are currently detained in Misratah. There are detainees from other sub-Saharan African countries as well. The detainees are held in deplorable conditions; they are not provided with proper food, drink or medical facilities. Further, many detainees have reportedly been physically and sexually abused by the prison security guards. Some of them are imprisoned with their kids.

I urge your government to treat the refugees in accordance with international human rights standards and assist them in their applications for asylum. Please ensure that the refugees are given the same rights as other Libyans.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Name]

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Sample Letter to HE Mr Omar R Jelban Tel. +44 207 5896120

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Date]

The People’s Bureau of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya HE Mr Omar R Jelban 15 Knightsbridge London SW1X 7LY

Dear Mr Omar R Jelban,

Assalam Alykum,

Re: Ethiopian Refugees in Libya Facing Torture / Forcible Return to Their Homeland

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Name]

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Dear Mr ………..,

Re: Ethiopian Refugees in Libya Facing Torture / Forcible Return to Their Homeland

According to reports by the Washington DC based radio station, several hundred Ethiopians are currently detained in Libya detention centers. There are detainees from other sub-Saharan African countries as well. The detainees are held in deplorable conditions; they are not provided with proper food, drink or medical facilities. Further, many detainees have reportedly been physically and sexually abused by the prison security guards. Some of them are also born a chilf in prison.

I request you to urge the Libyan authorities to treat the refugees in accordance with international human rights standards and assist them in their applications for asylum. They should ensure that the refugees are given the same rights as other Libyans.

I look forward to hearing from you soon on this urgent matter,

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Name]

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For more information and effective result, please contact the office on the numbers or email below.

Islamic Human Rights Commission PO Box 598 Wembley HA9 7XH United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222 Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183 Email: info@ihrc.org Web: www.ihrc.org

Diplomatic Representation in US: The Libyan Liaison Office is located at

2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington DC 20037 (tel. 202-944-9601, fax 202-944-9060)

Mission of Libya to The United Nations 309 East 48th Street New York +1 212 752 5775 +1 212 593 4787

Libyan Peoples Bureau in The United Kingdom London +44 207 5896120

Libyan Peoples Bureau in Canada Ottawa +1 613 230 0919 - +1 613 230 0683 Peoples Bureau of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 81 Metcalfe Street Suite 1000 Ottawa, ONTARIO, K1P 6K7

www.libya-canada.org

Libyan Peoples Bureau in France Paris +33 1 47047160