UN official condemns abuse and possible torture of BBC team by Libyan soldiers

UN official condemns abuse and possible torture of BBC team by Libyan soldiers

2011-03-11 01:37:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations human rights chief condemned on Thursday the detention and possible torture of a BBC news team by Libyan security forces.

The BBC reported that three journalists, who were trying to cover the situation in the western city of Zawiya, were beaten with fists, knees and rifles, hooded and subjected to mock executions by members of the Libyan army and secret police. The three were detained on Monday and held for 21 hours, but have now flown out of Libya.

"If an international television crew can be subjected to this type of treatment, it makes me extremely concerned about the treatment that is most likely being meted out to Libyan opponents of the regime who have fallen into the hands of the security services," High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement.

Pillay said that for a news team to be targeted, detained and treated with such cruelty, which she said could amount to torture, is "completely unacceptable" and in serious violation of international law.

The BBC said in a statement that it strongly condemned the "abusive treatment" of its journalists.

"The safety of our staff is our primary concern, especially when they are working in such difficult circumstances and it is essential that journalists working for the BBC, or any media organization, are allowed to report on the situation in Libya without fear of attack," Liliane Landor, languages controller of BBC Global News, said in a statement.

"Despite these attacks, the BBC will continue to cover the evolving story in Libya for our audiences both inside and outside the country," Landor added.

The human rights chief noted that the journalists had reportedly observed terrible conditions in the detention centre where they were held, "including clear signs that other detainees had been subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment." She also voiced concern about reported aerial bombardment of civilians and the use of military grade weapons and tanks on city streets, as well as accounts of summary executions, rapes and disappearances in the country.

The North African nation has been in turmoil since mid-February when protesters took to the streets demanding the ouster of long-time leader Muammar Al-Qadhafi. Between 1,000 and 10,000 people are believed to have been killed in the uprising, according to various estimates. Information has proved difficult to gather due to reporting restrictions by the Libyan government.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-11