Action Alert: Libya – Call for the prosecution of Gaddafi

Action Alert: Libya – Call for the prosecution of Gaddafi
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Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required
4. Sample letter

1. Summary

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) condemns Colonel Gaddafi’s use of lethal force against anti-government protesters which can be considered a massacre and a crime against humanity.

The protests continue to take place for the sixth day despite the increasing number of killings and injuries.

IHRC urges all campaigners to write letters to their Foreign Secretary / Minister of Foreign Affairs urging them to call on the International Criminal Court to take action against President Gaddafi and his son Saif Al-Islam for giving direct orders to security forces to use live ammunition against peaceful protesters.

2. Background

The revolution of 17 February 2011 is still continuing with protesters seeking to topple President Gaddafi, the world’s longest-serving ruler, who has been in power for 42 years.
In reaction to this, Gaddafi has resorted to hiring mercenaries to attack protesters and ordered security forces to use live ammunition and tear gas on protesters.

It has been reported that tanks and helicopter gunships full of foreign mercenaries are attacking groups of demonstrators. Reports state that at least one dead man has been hit by an anti-aircraft missile, while other bodies are riddled with heavy machine gun fire.  It has also been reported that the death toll is beyond 450 with almost 3000 injuries.

Hospitals throughout different cities are overcrowded with doctors reporting that hospitals have dead bodies piling up. There are desperate calls for medical supplies and blood donations.

Doctors have also reported that there was a “shoot and kill policy”, with ambulances being attacked by security forces and doctors being shot dead by mercenaries in hospitals.

Telephone and internet access appears to have been cut off throughout Libya. Activists and journalists have been arrested in Tripoli.

Gaddafi’s son, Saif Al-Islam gave a provocative speech yesterday, 20 February 2011, in which he warned: “Libya is at a crossroads. If we do not agree today on reforms, we will not be mourning 84 people, but thousands of deaths and rivers of blood will run through Libya.” His speech will cause further unrest and instability.

Seven Libyan Ambassadors worldwide have resigned in protest to the brutal killings and attacks by the government against peaceful protesters.

IHRC calls on the international community to seek the arrest of Ghaddafi and his son, and those implicated in the attacks on civilians in order to bringing them to justice before the International Criminal Court for the crimes they have committed.

3. Action required

Write to your Minister of Foreign Affairs / Foreign Secretary urging them to call on the International Criminal Court to Bring Gaddafi and the others to account.

4. Sample letter
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A sample letter is given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is very important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters. It is preferable that letters be sent via post, or otherwise by fax and/or email.

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(UK campaigners can write using the address supplied below, fax: +44 (0)20 7839 2417 or email: private.office@fco.gov.uk )

[Your name]
[Your address]

[Date]

Rt. Hon. William Hague MP
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London, SW1A 2AH, UK

Dear Mr Hague,

Re: Anti-government protesters massacred in Libya

I am utterly shocked and outraged over Gaddafi’s use of live ammunition and heavy arms against the civilians in Libya.

Over 450 people have been killed and 3000 injured during the last week, for demanding political reform.

Gaddafi has resorted to hiring mercenaries to attack and kill the protesters and ordered the security forces of his regime to use live ammunition and tear gas on protesters. 

Doctors have also reported that there is a “shoot and kill policy”, ambulances are being attacked by security forces and doctors are being shot dead by mercenaries in hospitals.

Saif Al-Islam, Gaddafi’s son, gave a provocative speech on 20 February 2011, in which he warned of rivers of blood that will run.

I urge you to call on the International Criminal Court to bring President Gaddafi and his son Saif Al-Islam and all those implicated in ordering civilian deaths to account.

I look forward to your reply regarding this urgent matter.

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]
[Your name]

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For more information, please contact the office on the numbers or email below

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IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Please help IHRC by visiting https://www.ihrc.org.uk/catalog and making a donation or buying an item from our on-line store.

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If you are reusing this alert, please cite the source.

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

“And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75

Join the Struggle for Justice. Join IHRC.

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

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