Libya executes 10 on terrorism charges, drawing rights criticism

The convicted individuals faced charges including membership in joint terrorist groups and involvement in assassinations of military personnel and civilians. The prosecutor's office stated that all legal procedures were concluded, but did not provide specific details on the charges or the timing and location of the executions.

Local media reported the executions took place at Qarnada military prison, with families notified to collect the bodies from a hospital in Benghazi. The announcement immediately drew condemnation from human rights organizations, both within Libya and internationally. The National Institution for Human Rights in Libya raised fundamental questions about jurisdiction, judicial independence, and fair trial guarantees, particularly concerning the trial of civilians before military courts. This concern is amplified by a Constitutional Court ruling that declared such trials unconstitutional for terrorism-related offenses.

International rights groups, including Amnesty International, have consistently criticized Libya's application of the death penalty, often following trials that do not meet international standards for fairness. Libya has been in a state of division and instability since the 2011 uprising that ousted Moammar Gadhafi, with rival administrations in the east and west backed by various militias and foreign powers.