Journey into the hell of refugees in Libyan prisons: dossier Habeshia

Emilio Drudi


In Libyan prisons migrants, refugees and asylum seekers continue to die. Harassment, abuse, rapes, ferocious repression of any attempt to protest. Kills even when cold. Was revealed in a dossier agency assistance Habeshia. The indifference of the international community. Of Europe and Italy in particular. For Italy, which has renewed and kept alive with the revolutionary government, the agreements reached in the past by Berlusconi and Gaddafi dictator. The "friendship treaty" was signed by Prime Minister General Mario Monti on January 20 last year, with the understanding to develop specific chapters for some special problems, such as the control of migration. Ignored all appeals, such as the historian Angelo Del Boca and various humanitarian organizations, to make this newfound "friendship" and cooperation to guarantee respect for human rights in the country.
No change of course even after that, on February 23, the European Court of Justice condemned Italy for the policy of indiscriminate expulsions at sea against migrants, commissioned by the Northern League minister Roberto Maroni with the Berlusconi government. Indeed, on April 3, the new interior minister Anna Maria Cancellieri, has signed a new agreement on immigration that was initially semi-secret, proved to be almost a copy of the "League" of rejections and the subsequent delivery of refugees to Libyan prisons. The Parliament has not discussed and the press did not mention it, although in the meantime, on March 29, she got a second conviction for Italy, this time by the Council of Europe, for the death of 63 asylum seekers abandoned adrift on a raft in the Strait of Sicily. To discover the content was Amnesty International, July 12 launched a campaign to request the waiver. A few days earlier, on June 29, there had emerged concretely the effects of this renewed agreement, with the lock at sea by Italian and Libyan naval vessels, a boat carrying 76 asylum seekers from Eritrea and Somalia, then handed over to the police border and transferred to the detention center Sibrata Mentega Delila, in the suburbs of Tripoli. Each other, including two pregnant women and children less than a year.
On 4 July, the newspaper La Repubblica, a dozen testimonies collected in the field, real "voices from hell" told what are the living conditions of the refugees in the camps in Libya. Sibrata Mentega Delila is no exception. The dossier Habeshia now confirms and extends those "voices from hell", describing the plight of hundreds of refugees enslaved, tortured, killed. And what's more, at risk of deportation: the Libyan authorities want to return them to the countries from which they fled to escape persecution and war, even though it is well known that in many cases - for the Eritreans, for example - back after attempting to travel abroad clandestine means being sentenced to long years in prison or even death, especially when it comes to military or young people of military age, however.
The case considers three detention centers in Homs, Tuewsha and Benghazi. The situation is almost identical in all three prisons: a hell of deprivation and abuse, continuing violence, denial of rights. "You have imprisoned young people, women and children 'guilty' only to have fled in search of freedom and a better life, is a huge abuse - don Mussie Zerai complaint, President of Habeshia - But even you do not even respect their human dignity are not held, they are slaves in the hands of torturers who have it how they want. " The incidents reported by prison prison speak for themselves.
Homs. About 200 detainees. "In these days - reveals Habeshia - the Libyan soldiers are forcing the refugees to be registered with the embassies of the countries of origin. It 's the prelude to expulsion: the return to the state that persecuted them to the point of forcing them to flee. This is a very serious, in which refugees are forced to fury of violence and conflict with each international humanitarian law. Libya is openly violating, in particular, the African Union Convention that protects the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Between 150 and 200 men and women raped every day see their human dignity. Suffer discrimination on religious grounds, and especially men are beaten continuously. Women who are ill or pregnant, in need of medical checks, denied any kind of assistance. Any hint of protest is punished. In recent weeks, four young men were killed: three Eritreans and a Somali. An Eritrean boy was struck cold with a knife by the military while he slept, perhaps to 'punishment'. This series of abuses against women, which is also prevented by washing, staged a hunger strike. The protest was repressed wildly. The military if they are taken with a guy as a scapegoat first have stepped barrel and then shot him without any reason. Seeing that horrible scene, many women began to scream and the military, to reduce them to silence, they beat them and fired several shots fired. "
Tuewsha. More than 600 refugees. "It 's one of the most crowded detention centers - detects Habeshia - There are detained 550 men (500 Somalis and Eritreans fifty) and sixty women: 50 Somali and Eritrean ten. Three of the young Eritrean are pregnant: one has already passed the eighth month. Everyone, including pregnant women, suffer from lack of food and water. Water for personal hygiene but even that drinking water, to be able to at least quench. Many have been there for more than six months, six months of continuous abuse. Who tried to escape and was taken, suffered heavy beatings by the military guard: one lost an eye to the beatings, others complain permanent physical disability. "
Benghazi. Four hundred prisoners. "This center - reads the file - it is theoretically managed by the 'Red Crescent', but in fact command the armed militia of the revolution, which come when they want and have the prisoners to their liking. Several women were raped and at least 140 men were taken away to work as slaves. Even the younger kids under age, do not escape the beatings and torture. According to witnesses, on the contrary, the militia would have invented a game using just horrible these kids: a sort of shooting with human targets. Would avoid hit but even so, if true, is a form of torture awful. For pure sadistic fun. "
In the face of all this, don Mussie Zerai launches yet another appeal to the international community. To the European Union to intervene in the Libyan government. All'Italia it gives a voice, meanwhile suspending the effectiveness of the treaties signed soon. Agencies of the United Nations to all refugees detainees to be freed as soon as possible and transferred to centers run by the UN High Commission for Refugees. "On the one Libya 'democratic' - Don Zerai protest - we expected greater respect for human rights and a serious fight against racism against Africans: a tough fight against all forms of discrimination based on religion, ethnic, racial. It is not in any way understand this rage against the refugees. It seems absurd, the deafening silence of the international community. "

The IDF is preventing the entry of a group of about 20 asylum seekers from Eritrea trapped between fences on Israeli soil

It was published today in the Israeli media, that the IDF is preventing the entry of a group of about 20 Eritrean asylum seekers who are trapped between fences on Israeli soil next to the Egyptian border. The asylum seekers have been trapped there since Thursday and the IDF is not providing them with any food. Two of the asylum seekers are women, one of them was pregnant and had a miscarriage in the past few days.The soldiers provided the Eritreans with tarps to cover themselves from the baking sun. The soldiers have been ordered to give the asylum seekers "as little water as possible."

The Hotline for Migrant Workers stated: "Preventing the entry of those who seek asylum here is a violation of international law, which obligates countries to allow such entries so as to examine the asylum requests. The asylum seekers are on Israeli soil and it is a violation of the principle of non-refoulement to return a person to a place where he or his freedom is endangered. The Supreme Court has ruled that no person should be deported to a place where his safety cannot be guaranteed, and it is a known fact that Egypt often deports asylum seekers to their countries of origin."

Sigal Rozen

Public Policy Coordinator

Hotline for Migrant Workers

Tel: 054-8177845

Libya: The tragedy of hundreds of refugees in Prisons

Hums: More than 150 men and women in degrading conditions for their human dignity, they live also suffering discrimination on religious grounds, especially males, or are continually being beaten, in recent weeks, four refugees were killed, three nationalities of Eritrea and one Somali. An Eritrean boy was hit with a knife in the back by the military while he was sleeping. These days women are experiencing serious discounts is prevented for up to wash because they are Christian. One of the women Eritreans, acusata the military have warned the outside, the drama that was consumendo Friday, while one boy was killed by Eritrean military, so in three military sessulamente abused her, then have it thrown out in the desert in the middle of the night. Now She is located in Tripoli, save by a miracle thanks to a Libyan woman and a Sudanese man who helped him.
Tuewsha: There are 10 women from Eritrea, which 3donne pregnant, a eighth month and a half the other two a fifth month in the last four months, then there are about 50 Somali women and 32 men Eritreans, Somalis 500 males, all suffer from a lack of food, water and personal hygiene. Especially ill-treatment of males. From three weeks women, among men there who was also 5-6 months in the detention center, is still there, those who tried to escape then captured by the military have been severely beaten up even in losing an eye in other cases lead a permanent disability in the physical.
Benghazi: There are about 400 people detained in a center run by the theory "Luna Rossa" but in fact, command the armed men of the revolution point to afford to get into the center, sexually abusing women, take away 140 males to make them work as slaves. In Benghazi minors are not spared from beatings and torture where the military enjoy playing shooting using the children as an object to play with.
Libya from a "democratic" we expected more respect for human rights and a serious fight against racism against Africans, a tough fight against all forms of discrimination on grounds religious, ethnic and racial. We do not understand why all this rage against African refugees? Why so much violence and massacre of dozens of refugees who died under the blows of the weapons of the soldiers and militiamen.
I appeal to all humanitarian organizations, including agencies of the United Nations to make every effort possible to get the respect for human rights and the rights of refugees. Get more soon their release from prison is to be accommodated in refugee camps managed by UNHCR.
Fr. Mussie Zerai

Libia: Il dramma di centinaia di profughi nelle Carceri

Hums: Più di 150 persone donne e uomini in condizione degradanti per la loro dignità umana, vivono subendo anche discriminazioni per motivo religioso, sopratutto o maschi continuamente vengono picchiati, nelle settimane scorse sono stati uccisi quattro profughi, tre di nazionalità Eritrea e uno Somalo. Un ragazzo eritreo è stato colpito con un coltello alla schiena dai militari mentre dormiva. In questi giorni le donne stanno vivendo gravi disaggi gli viene impedito per fino di lavarsi perché sono cristiane. Una delle donne eritrei, acusata dei militari di avere avvisato all'esterno, il dramma che si stava consumendo Venerdì scorso, mentre veniva ucciso uno ragazzo eritreo dai militari, cosi in tre militari hanno abusato sessulamente di lei, poi lo hanno gettata fuori nel deserto in piena notte. Ora la regazza si trova a Tripoli, salva per miracolo grazie ad una donna libica e un uomo sudanese che lo hanno aiutata.
Tuewsha: Ci sono 10 donne dell'Eritrea, di cui 3donne in stato di gravidanza, una all'Ottavo mese e mezzo le altre due una al quinto mese l'ultima al quarto mese, poi ci sono donne somale circa 50, e 32 maschi eritrei, 500 maschi somali, tutti soffrono della mancanza di cibo, acqua potabile e per l'igiene personale. Maltrattamenti sopratutto su maschi. Da tre settimana le donne, tra i maschi ce chi è stato anche 5 - 6 mesi nel centro di detenzione, è ancora li, chi ha tentato la fuga poi catturati dai militari sono stati picchiati selvaggiamente fino anche a perdere un occhio in altri casi portare un invalidità permanente nel fisico.
Bengasi: Sono circa 400 le persone detenute in un centro in teoria gestito dalla "Luna Rossa" ma di fatto la comandano i uomini armati della rivoluzione al punto di permettersi di entrare nel centro, abusare sessualmente delle donne, portarsi via 140 maschi per farli lavorare come schiavi. A Bengasi neanche i minorenni vengono risparmiati dalle percosse e tortura dove i militari si divertono a fare tiro a segno usando i ragazzini come un oggetto con cui divertirsi.
Da una Libia "Democratica" ci aspettavamo maggiore rispetto dei diritti umani e una seria lotta contro il razzismo nei confronti degli Africani, una lotta serrata contro ogni forma di discriminazione per motivo religioso, etnico e razziale. Non comprendiamo perché tutto questo accanimento contro i profughi Africani ? Perché tanta violenza e massacro di decine di profughi morti sotto i colpi delle armi dei militari e miliziani.
Faccio appello a tutte le Organizzazioni Umanitarie, in particolare alle agenzie delle nazioni unite di fare tutto lo sforzo possibile per ottenere il rispetto dei diritti e diritti dei rifugiati. Ottenere a più presto la loro liberazione dalle carceri è vengano accolte in un campo profughi gestito dall'UNHCR.
Don Mussie Zerai

Eritrean refugees show their torture wounds

August 28th, 2012

09:27 AM ET

‘A Stand in the Sinai’: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary

• Follow-up to CNN’s award-winning documentary ‘Death in the Desert’ which uncovered the shocking trade of organ trafficking in the Sinai Desert
• Progress discovered in Sinai Peninsula since last year’s original
  

TX: Friday 21 September at 2130 BST

African refugees, mostly from Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, face a dangerous journey crossing Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula as they seek a better life in Israel.

As reported in last year’s award-winning CNN Freedom Project documentary ‘Death in the Desert’, the reality that awaits these migrants is often slavery, rape, imprisonment and torture.

In ‘Death in the Desert’, CNN correspondent Fred Pleitgen uncovered evidence that many of these refugees trying to reach Israel had fallen into the hands of human traffickers in the Sinai. These traffickers then tortured the refugees, and in some cases harvested their organs for sale on the black market, leaving many of their victims to die.

In 2012, in ‘A Stand in the Sinai: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary’, Pleitgen returns to the Sinai and finds a different reality now awaits the constant flow of African refugees. He speaks to Bedouin tribal leaders who say they are now working to battle human trafficking in the region, offering medical support and safe havens for these refugees.

Bedouin Sheikh Mohammed Abu Billal tells Pleitgen these refugees usually come to him with “signs of torture and rape, dressed in rags and starved…methods of oppression to exploit them for money. The burden is heavy on me, but it is a responsibility called upon us by Islam…that is why I spend my money to harbour them and bring happiness to their hearts at any cost,” says Sheikh Mohammed.

“When the CNN Freedom Project first discovered the atrocities taking place in the Sinai, it was not enough to do a standalone report,” says Tony Maddox, Executive vice president and managing director of CNN International. “Fred’s continued commitment to this story speaks to the Freedom Project’s core mission: that is to uncover stories of modern-day slavery, bring them to light, raise awareness and hopefully contribute to effective change.”

Earlier this year, the U.S.-based Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. recognised ‘Death in the Desert’ with the prestigious Tom Renner Award for its investigative coverage of organised crime or other criminal acts, citing the CNN team’s “great personal risk in crossing the dangerous badlands of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula to expose a network of human trafficking and organ sales.”

About The CNN Freedom Project

In 2011, CNN Worldwide launched ‘The CNN Freedom Project: Ending Modern-Day Slavery,’ a multi-platform initiative aimed at exposing the horrors of modern-day slavery, highlighting the growing efforts to stop the trade and exploitation of human beings and amplifying the voices of the victims. From debt bondage in India to sex trafficking rings in Southern California, the CNN Freedom Project has generated more than 250 stories of modern-day slavery. Many notable figures have partnered with the Freedom Project since its launch including Anil Kapoor, Demi Moore, COMMON, Mira Sorvino and Emmanuel Jal.

CNN.com’s Freedom Project blog on www.cnn.com/freedom serves as the platform where users can participate in the global discussion and debate around modern-day slavery. The CNN Freedom Project is on Twitter –@CNNFreedom – and Facebook at www.facebook.com/CNNFreedom. Through these channels, users can connect directly with CNN about this cause, learn more about the organisations standing on the frontlines and see how they are affecting change.

Full air times for ‘A Stand in the Sinai’

Friday 21 September at 16:30 and 21:30 BST
Saturday 22 September at 14:00 and 21:30 BST 
Sunday 23 September at 10:30 BST 
Monday 24 September at 04:30 BST

For more information, please contact:

Joel Brown
Senior Press Officer
CNN Europe, Middle East & Africa
+ 44 20 7693 0967
joel.brown@turner.com

Dénonciation de Pere Mussei Zerai, en contact avec les réfugiés enfermés en Libye:

Dénonciation de Pere Mussei Zerai, en contact avec les réfugiés enfermés en Libye:

La situation des réfugiés d'Afrique subsharienne en Libye dévienne de plus en plus un infern. Sont arrivés à trois les personnes tués par les milices libyennes.
Pendant toute la journée il y a eu des tension entre les réfugiés et les militaires au camp d'enfermement de Homs, à l'est de Tripoli. Dans le camp sont enfermés un centaine de demandeurs d'asile et réfugiés (déjà reconnus par l'HCR au Sudan), protestaient de façon pacifique contre les conditions de vie, la manque de respect de la dignité humain, le fait que il y a des femmes enceinte qui nécessitent de contrôles médicales et assistance qui ne reçoivent jamais. La réponse des militaires libyens a été celle de tabasser sauvagement un jeun garçon, bouc émissaire, pour après tirer sur lui sans aucune raison. Les militaires ont tiré aussi contre les femmes qui hurlaient face à l'homicide du jeun. Les militaires ont tiré et tabassé les femmes pour les faire taire.
Des dernières infos depuis Tripoli serrent trois les migrants morts par main des militaires, tout cela est un crime contre l'humanité, en totale violations des droits humaines et conventions internationales qui protègent les réfugiés.
La mort de ces trois demandeurs d'asile en un camp d'enfermement en Libye, est une grave accusation aussi contre l'Europe qui n'est pas en train de veiller sur les accords faits avec la Libye d'aujourd'hui, qui n'est en rien différente de la Libye de Gheddafy, même pire. Tout ce massacre se passe pour empêcher aux migrants de rejoindre la forteresse europe. Les pressions européennes pour fermer les portes de l'Europe est en train de couter la vie à beaucoup de réfugiés.
Je fais appel au Parlement Européen pour que il intervient avec des décisions sur le gouvernement de Tripoli, pour que il le rappelle au respect des droits humains et des droits des demandeurs d'asile politique. Liberer tous les réfugiés et les donner au HCR qui a le devoir de leur garantir une protection internationale.
Fr. Mussei Zerai

Un massacro di richiedenti asilo nel centro di detenzione di Hums a est di Tripoli.

La situazione dei profughi Africani Sub Sahariani in Libia si sta rivelando sempre più un inferno. Sono saliti a tre le persone uccise dai militari libici. Tutto iniziato Ieri mattina e tutto il giorno ce stata un alta tenziono tra profughi e militari fino che la sera sul tardi i militari a detti alla sorveglianza del centro di detenzione dei richiedenti asilo a Hums ad est di Tripoli, dove sono detenuti centinaia di richiedenti asilo politico e rifugiati, già riconosciuti dall'UNHCR in Sudan, protestavano pacificamnte contro le  condizioni terribili di detenzioni, maltrattamenti fino anche uccisioni, come successo ieri sera. Difronte alle richieste ed sciopero della fame messo in atto dalle donne disperate dalle condizioni di vita, dalla mancanza di rispetto della loro dignità umana, le donne in stato di gravidanza bisognose di controlli medici e assistenza che non la ricevono mai, la risposta dei militari libici e stata quella di picchiare selvaggiamente un ragazzo come carpio espiatorio, per poi sparargli senza nessuna ragione. I militari hanno sparato anche contro le donne che urlavano difronte all'uccisione di un loro compagno, i militari hanno picchiato e sparato contro le donne per ridurle al silenzio.
Le ultime aggiornamenti da Tripoli che sono saliti a tre i morti sotto i colpi dei militari libici, tutto questo è un crimine contro l'umanità, e in totale violazione dei diritti umani e convenzioni internazionali che tutelano i diritti dei  rifugiati.
La morte di questi tre richiedente asilo in un centro di detenzione in Libia, è una grave atto di acusa anche all'Europa che non sta vigilando su accordi siglati con la Libia di oggi che non è diversa per nulla dalla libia di ieri con Ghedaffi, anzi la libia di oggi si dimostra più violenta rispetto ai tempi della dittatura del Colonnello. Tutto questa massacro sta avvenendo pur di impedire ai profughi di raggiungere la fortezza Europa. Le pressioni europei per chiudere le porte dell'Europa sta costando la vita a molti rifugiati.
Faccio Appello al Parlamento Europeo di intervenire con decisione sul governo di Tripoli, lo richiami al rispetto dei diritti umani e i diritti dei richiedenti asilo politico. Liberare tutti i profughi, e consegnarli nelle mani del UNHCR che ha il dovere di garantire a queste persone la protezione internazionale.
don Mussie Zerai