TRIPOLI — The Libyan Human Rights Observatory had called on the judicial authorities to release Amara Hassan Al-Khatabi, the editor of the Ummah (Nation) newspaper, accused of defamation of members of the judiciary. He published a list of 84 judges in the newspaper claiming saying they were involved in corruption, demanding that the allegations be investigated. The observatory said that Khatabi, 67, who was arrested on Dec. 19 and has been on hunger strike in Hudba Prison since Feb. 28, was pursuing his professional job as an editor when he published that reports about alleged corruption in the Libyan judiciary. It claimed that the authorities had ignored his rights to free expression and did not investigate any of the corruption cases published in his newspaper, to see if they were valid or not. Warning of the seriousness of this behavior, it called on the General National Congress to review existing laws and modify them so as to ensure the protection of citizens and the preservation of their rights. Amnesty International has also called for Khatabi to be released “immediately and unconditionally”. It says there are risks that his health will deteriorate rapidly as he suffers from a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes and hypertension. “We are extremely worried about Amara Abdalla Al-Khatabi's health. Detaining a journalist because he runs a piece on corruption is reminiscent of Gaddafi-era practices. Al-Khatabi should be released immediately and without any conditions,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Program Director at Amnesty International. — Libya Herald
