Libyan Rebels Hold Thousands of Black Africans Prisoner
- Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:18pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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TRIPOLI, Libya (The Blaze/AP) — Rebel forces and armed civilians are rounding up thousands of black Libyans and migrants from sub-Sahara Africa, acccusing them of fighting for ousted strongman Moammar Gadhafi and holding them in makeshift jails across the capital.
Virtually all of the detainees say they are innocent migrant workers, and in most cases there is no evidence that they are lying. But that is not stopping the rebels from placing the men in facilities like the Gate of the Sea sports club, where about 200 detainees — all black — clustered on a soccer field this week, bunching against a high wall to avoid the scorching sun.
Handling the prisoners is one of the first major tests for the rebel leaders, who are scrambling to set up a government that they promise will respect human rights and international norms, unlike the dictatorship they overthrew.
The rebels’ National Transitional Council has called on fighters not to abuse prisoners and says those accused of crimes will receive fair trials. There have been little credible evidence of rebels killing or systematically abusing captives during the six-month conflict. Still, the African Union and Amnesty International have protested the treatment of blacks inside Libya, saying there is a potential for serious abuse.
Aladdin Mabrouk, a spokesman for Tripoli’s military council, said no one knows how many people have been detained in the city, but he guessed more than 5,000. While no central registry exists, he said neighborhood councils he knows have between 200 and 300 prisoners each. The city of 1.8 million has dozens of such groups.
Justice Minister Mohammed al-Alagi told reporters this week that he’d visited several detention centers and found conditions “up to international standards.”
“We are building a Libya of tolerance and freedom, not of revenge,” he said.
Oil-rich but with a relatively small population of 6.6. million, Gadhafi’s Libya welcomed hundreds of thousands of black Africans looking for work in recent decades. Many young citizens of Mali and Niger who flocked to Libya in the 1970s and 1980s were recruited into an “Islamic Legion” modeled on the French Foreign Legion. In addition, Gadhafi‘s military recruited heavily from black tribes in Libya’s south
As a result, people with roots in sub-Saharan Africa and black Libyan citizens have been targeted by rebel forces in the messy and confusing fight for control of the country.
In the Khallat al-Firjan neighborhood in south Tripoli, Associated Press reporters saw rebel forces punching a dozen black men before determining they were innocent migrant workers and releasing them.
The Gate of the Sea club near Tripoli’s fishing port became a lockup Monday night, when residents rounded up people in the surrounding area.
Guards at the club said they looked for unfamiliar faces, then asked for IDs. Those without papers or whose legal residences were distant cities were marched to the club.
This week, an armed guard stood by a short hallway that led through two metal gates onto a soccer field surrounded by high walls. There was no roof, so the detainees clustered against the wall to get out of the heat.
One black Libyan from the southern city of Sebha said he had worked for a Tripoli cleaning company. A French-speaking man from Niger said he had a shop nearby. One black Libyan said he was in the army but quit during the uprising.
In an office nearby where sports trophies still lined the shelves, Ibrahim al-Rais, a 60-year-old fisherman, acted as prison director. A bag held wallets and IDs taken from the captives. Another was stuffed with cell phones, which occasionally rang.
He acknowledged that many of the detainees were likely innocent migrant workers stranded in the country but he insisted that a “big percentage” were mercenaries.
“These people were fighting against our people,” he said.
As proof, his team pointed to ID cards issued in Libya’s south that he said were fake and a document issued by the Niger Embassy in Tripoli. He said Gadhafi gave many mercenaries Libyan IDs so they could fight. He also said many had been carrying dollars or euros — which al-Rais said were mercenary wages.
Sabri Taha, a fish merchant in short and flip-flops who was prisoners, said one had a video on his phone of a soldier shooting children. When asked by an AP reporter to play it, he couldn’t find it. The prisoner said he didn’t know how the video got on his phone.
In another man’s wallet, Taha found a photo of the detainee in a green military uniform and accused him of fighting for Gadhafi. The detainee said he had manned a regime checkpoint, but had defected to the rebels when they reached the city.
The captors insist their prison is temporary and that the local military council will question the detainees before releasing them or transferring them elsewhere.
In the meantime, they started a handwritten list of the men’s names, ages and nationalities.
“You see, we have no experience, but we have figured out how to get organized,” said Abu-Bakir Zaroug, a local volunteer.
They still didn’t know how many prisoners they held.
“The danger is that there is no oversight by any authorities, and the people who are carrying out the arrests — more like abductions — are not trained to respect human rights,” said Diana Eltahawy of Amnesty International. “They are people who carry a lot of anger against people they believe committed atrocities.”
For about a week, the Tripoli Local Prison has been receiving inmates and now holds about 300, said Anwar Bin Naji, a former prison employee who helps run the facility. About 50 are Libyans. The rest are from Ghana, Nigeria, Niger and other African countries.
“They are all arrested by rebels or by civilians who love the homeland,” Naji said.
As he spoke, two rebel trucks carrying about a dozen black men entered the prison, honking their horns.
“Those are all mercenaries, or most of them,” he said before speaking to the men.
In the cellblock, captives clustered by the barred doors of their cells. All said they were migrant workers who had come to Libya to work. Some said they’d lived here for years.
They said they hadn’t been beaten, and were given simple food once or twice a day. They had drinking water, but none for bathing, they said.
Of the 28 people in one five-by-six meter cell, one had blistering burns on his face, neck and arm. Naji, the guard, said volunteers were still setting up a medical clinic.
The burned man, Ahmed Ali, said he’d come to Libya from his native Chad two years ago and worked as a house painter before the uprising.
“When the rebels entered Tripoli, some guys came and burned down my house,” he said. He escaped and ran to some rebel fighters, hoping they’d protect him.
“They brought me here,” he said, adding that he’d received no medical care in the six days since his arrest.
“They believe that most of the black in Libya are mercenaries, so now all the blacks on the street, they pick them up,” he said.
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Comments (53)
NuffSaid
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 5:30amHow to you like that Obongo? Stick that in your pttoot!
Report Post »OperationNorthwoods
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 3:46amThe war of civilizations is being set up by the bankers to have another catastophic war to bring us into the new world order. Think about it. ww1= league of nations, ww2= united nations, ww3= ?
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 7:10amA bitter rift has opened up between the world’s most powerful bank and one of its most fearsome dictators after Goldman Sachs invested $1.3bn (£790m) of Colonel Gaddafi’s money – and lost virtually all of it.
Report Post »Shane777
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 3:17amAll western media coverage on this topic is a total lie (including this story.) Please try to find foreign sources on this RT is ok… Read Gadhafi’s “The Green Book” He never played into fiat currency an that’s why banks are ousting him. If you get the chance see this post please do the research, it will for sure get deleted.
Report Post »Steve
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 2:10amPerfect solution.
Another story on the Blaze reported the black panther party was training young children to fight and kill and die black is need be.
New Black Panther Party Member Teaches ‘Black Survival’ Tactics With Guns and Machetes…to Kids
Lets send them over there and teach those kids instead of ours being they‘re at war and we’re not .
Report Post »They’re black! and they’re……oooo wait they’re also Muslims. Guess that would be a conflict.
Gypsy123
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 2:01amLargest slave holders have always been muslims.
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:04amSlavery has always been viewed as a legitimate fate for nonbelievers by Muslims.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 1:42amSo, the racists are now Arabs? Someone should tell Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson about this. It’s all quite confusing. The Arab countries claim that they don’t look at race, but apparently, they do. It appears that if you are a Muslim that shares DNA with the Jews, then everything is fine and dandy. On the other hand, if you are a Muslim who is “too” Black, then there is a problem.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 2:24amThe Arab Muslim vs. Black Muslim thing is not new — look at Darfur.
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 5:03amNow just calm down. Everything will be fine in Libya now that Gaddafi is gone.
Report Post »timej31
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 12:59amThey are African-African?
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 4:25amOh, now THAT is a term to remember!
Are there also Sunni African Africans and Shiite African Africans?
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 4:32amOn another note, I’d imagine to be politically correct it would have to be “African South Africans.”
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:35pmThe NERVE of those racists! Let’s send all the Congressional Black Caucus over to talk with them and let them know they are racists and will be lynched. My my, racists come in all colors I guess, Just wish they’d make up their minds what a racist really is.
Report Post »In America I love all my black friends who are my brothers & sisters in Christ Jesus. Wonderful people.
GOD BLESS AMERICA, and God bless each and every one of us. We love the Lord.
TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 12:55amThe Caliphate begins to show its true “colors”. Rape-y Radical Racists. The American Left adores them.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 3:12pm… African North Africans, African East Africans, African West Africans etc. Let’s be politically correct, people. We don’t want to have to tell you again! Now, go find yer binkie!
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 12:38amMakes you wonder what they (Libyian’s) really think of our black President.. The one who inadvertantly helped them, without Congresses approval!!
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 12:34amIt will soon be time for the White man to again save the black man from African oppression.. The Muslims will scream bloody murder about Colonialist interference. Thanks obama – loozer!
Report Post »georgeisn6
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 12:26am“Racist” “racist” I say; the first thing you know those poor blacks will be hanging from trees, only in lybia there are no trees,so they will no doubt be hung from skyhooks.
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 12:10amThose Libyans are just a bunch of racists. Why won’t Al Sharpton go save them?
Report Post »proudpatriot77
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:49pmI heard that Democrats are saying that some of the Libyan rebels are members of the Tea Party, and that is why the black Africans are being rounded up
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:38pmI bet you’re right.
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:36pmHow about a human rights organization coming here and raising cain about the sexual abuse of Americans when we try to travel.
Report Post »nappy
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:33pmsweet.. worse will come. This was Obama’s war right? The one that was so easy..
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:43pmi would have assumed this was a horrible case of racism, but luckily, it just seems to be a warm up to genocidal murder by those whacky, freedom loving, radical Muslims……someone please tell Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to stand down…..nothing to be concerned about here……btw, anybody feeling proud about how their tax dollars are being used in Libya yet???
Report Post »stumblemouth
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:32pmThe “justice” minister says that they are building a Libya of “tolerance and freedom?” Except if you have a black skin. Or are a Christian. Or if you don’t want sharia law. Or…
Report Post »Carl1 Supports Israel
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:10pmCal Shaft…. He’s One Bad Mutha… Shut Yo Mouth! What? I’m Just Talkin Bout Shaft!
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:03pmSomeone help me out here. What is Obama’s reasoning for why we are in Egypt and Libya to begin with? And how is it that the Lefties and MSM are okay with it? I must have missed a day of class somewhere along the way.
Report Post »Banter
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:49pmThe muslim bro’s – coming to a mideast country near you (Israel).
What’s that? No mention of them in this article? Well, we will see in a few weeks. Hillary gets what Hillary wants.
Report Post »UBETHECHANGE
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:45pmHillary must be proud of her beloved rebels… via Twitter…#Video, #SecClinton: “All of us are inspired by what is happening in Libya.” goo.gl/YuP4K #TNC
http://news.yahoo.com/iran-discreetly-aided-libyan-rebels-132112373.html
How many of the rebels are for jihad and sharia law, that is the question?!?!?
Speak for yourself Hill.
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:43pmThe Muslim faith is a peaceful one, remember?
Report Post »I am sure these African people are “Peacefully” being enslaved, and it will not be a “violent” movement to a shariah law and a caliphate.
UrbanCombatSurvivor
Posted on September 5, 2011 at 6:42amAnyone who claims that anything about muslim is a “religion of peace” has never read any of it’s writings. Why do we allow them to so blatantly present falsehoods without openly challenging the lies?
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:35pmSorry, African blacks, the American Left has sided with your oppressors (again) out of political expedience (again).
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:31pmWe have now been INSTRUMENTAL in assisting muslim extremists gain control of two African countries: Egypt & Libya. Why is it any surprise that they are act and talking like muslim extremists? Once power is consolidated by them in “democratic” elections (or naked power grabs – it makes no difference) we will watch them go from bad to worse than we can imagine!
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:30pmNo Lefty comments condemning this? Lol!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:13pmIs it their Blackness that makes them less Libyan? Are they not muslim enough??Screwie Louie should go over and sorta this boondoggle out. No pun intended.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on September 1, 2011 at 10:27pmSend over Black Panther Mr. King Sha-bam to put a choke hold on them and then pop two in the groin…because he’s licensed to use a gun.
Report Post »