Muammar Gaddafi’s son sentenced to death

A Libyan appeals court sentenced the son of former leader Moamar Gadhafi to death, along with at least four regime officials, for their part in mass killings that occurred during a 2011 uprising that ultimately deposed the autocrat. He was sentenced after being found guilty of committing war crimes during the 2011 Libyan revolution.

The Tripoli court also sentenced to death eight others including former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi. All those sentenced to death were convicted of directing war crimes against Libyans during the uprising against the Gadhafi government in 2011. 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.

The trial was “marred with serious flaws that highlight Libya’s inability to administer justice effectively in line with global fair trial standards”, Amnesty worldwide said in an e-mailed statement Tuesday. He earlier appeared in court via video link but was not present during sentencing.

The militant group holding al-Islam is allied with the Tobruk-based government in the city of Zintan which emerged as a major autonomous power in the civil war to oust Gaddafi.

Seif al-Islam has been held in Zintan since his capture in November of the same year, despite repeated demands by the ICC for Libya to hand him over for trial. Eight ex-officials received life sentences and seven jail terms of 12 years each, Sadiq said.

Before the uprising, Saif Al-Islam was known for introducing political and economic reforms.

Gaddafi was one of nine people to be sentenced to death on Tuesday by the Tripoli government, widely understood to be working with the Muslim Brotherhood network.

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said defence lawyers lacked full and timely access to case files and several had been unable to meet with clients in private while two had quit after receiving threats.

Joe Stork, HRW Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa, said the trial has been plagued by persistent, credible allegations of fair trial breaches that warrant independent and impartial judicial review.

October 28, 2011 – Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the worldwide Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, confirms that the ICC is having “informal conversations” about the surrender of Saif al-Islam Gadhafi.