Spotlight: Libya refutes slave trade as it stirs widespread anger and concern

by Mahmoud Darwesh

TRIPOLI, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Reports about stranded African migrants were sold as slaves in Libya was internationally condemned and drew criticism to Libya for failing to protect illegal immigrants and their human rights, experts said Wednesday.

CNN has recently published a report about auctions in different parts of Libya where stranded African migrants were sold as slaves for as little as 400 U.S. dollars.

The alleged slave markets in Libya was regionally and internationally condemned and drew criticism to Libya for failing to protect illegal immigrants and their human rights.

The allegations have also been questioned locally and internationally.

International organizations have not been able to prove the existence of such practices in Libya. Libyan authorities have failed to confute these allegations, but have confirmed they have opened an extensive official investigation into the issue.

Member of the eastern-based Parliament, Abdussalam Al-Morabet, does not believe that such practices exist in Libya, saying that "the claims of the U.S. network are false and not based on facts."

"I represent southern Libya in the Parliament. Over the few past years, I have not monitored or heard any inhumane treatment (to African immigrants). Africans live among us and move freely, and they work in many trades inside the country." Al-Morabet told Xinhua.

Al-Morabet stressed that the purpose of raising such issues is "to achieve political goals and to create conflict between countries, an attempt to blame us for their failure, especially as we are a transit country and not a destination for immigrants."

Libyan political analyst, Abdullah Al-Rayes, stressed that such acts of aggression, if they occur, do not represent Libyans, but individual acts taking place in any country in the world suffering from chaos, insecurity and instability.

Al-Rayes said that Libya "does not claim to protect human rights and is well aware of the escalating violence locally, but does not accept full responsibility as if it brings migrants from Africa."

"Migrants come of their own will. They are aware of the risk of death and torture that they may face on their way to Europe," Al-Rayes said.

Tareq Shanbour, director of the General Directorate of Coast Security, confirmed that the "Europeans themselves are not convinced of the allegations of slave trade in Libya," considering that these allegations aim to "make a demographic change for the target countries."

The Libyan government announced in November that it had launched an extensive investigation into allegations of migrant slave trade in the country. Enditem