Gaddafi’s son gets death, can appeal

Libya has been riven by conflict since Gaddafi’s overthrow, with rival governments and militias battling for control of cities and oil riches.

Among the other key figures sentenced to death this week were Gaddafi’s former spy chief, Abdullah al-Senussi, his last prime minister, Al-Mahmoudi al-Baghdadi, and former head of foreign intelligence, Buzeid Dorda.

A Libyan court sentenced to death Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the former leader Muammar Gaddafi. Photo: AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills.

Islam’s defence lawyer, Ali Aldaa, told the New York Times that he would contest the convictions before the Libyan Supreme Court, which needs to endorse the sentences. None of the successive transitional governments in Libya have been able to ensure the security of judges, prisoners, courts or even a legislature against the predations of various armed groups. We were not expecting this.

The trial outcome drew swift criticism overseas, with Human Rights Watch and a prominent worldwide lawyer saying it was riddled with legal flaws and was carried out amid lawlessness that undermined the credibility of the Libyan judiciary.

However this needs to be done with scrupulous adherence to worldwide fair trial standards and with full respect for the rights of the defendants.

The 37 defendants were charged with crimes including murder and complicity in incitement to rape during the 2011 uprising that toppled the dictatorship.

Other worldwide organisations, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Council of Europe, also condemned the verdict.

However, they did allow him to be tried by Tripoli and he appeared via a video link at the beginning of his trial.

In 2011, the worldwide Criminal Court in The Hague accused Saif al-Islam of crimes against humanity and issued an arrest warrant against him. The group, which is allied to the government in Tobruk that has the support of the worldwide community, does not recognize the regime in Tripoli.

The militia holding Saif al-Islam in the hill town of Zintan is aligned with Libya’s internationally recognized government based in the remote eastern city of Tobruk.

The charges against the defendants were not spelled out for which the verdict had been based. Eight other ex-officials of the Gaddafi regime were given life sentences.

Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, son of Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi, gestures as he speaks to supporters and the media in Tripoli.