Concerns of Torture Grow in Post-Gadhafi Libya

Loose oversight of Libya's prisons and militias has international NGOs sounding the alarm over retribution.

A new report from Amnesty International claims that as many 6,500 prisoners held by Libyan militias could be facing torture at the hands of the revolution's victors. The torture issue hinges on an almost total lack of oversight from the ruling Transitional National Council over some 60 prisons scattered across the country that are run by local militias, many of whom appear to be keen on settling scores with the remnants of the Gadhafi regime. In addition, Medecins Sans Frontieres has announced that it is pulling out of the city of Misrata due to repeated requests by authorities to patch up abused prisoners so that they could face more torture. The retributive torture allegations seem to support long-held concerns from critics of NATO's intervention that the aftermath of the revolution would likely lead to more violence and hence, renewed tensions. The UN also warned this week that while the TNC seems committed to creating a democratic (and hopefully torture-free) government in the country, it needs to work on consolidating authority over more far-flung regions of the country and the various tribal animosities that have become inflamed n recent months.