Front Line welcomes the release in Libya of two human rights defenders, Jamal Al Haji and Faraj Humaid after 2 years in prison.

Further Information

The two men are the last to be freed out of a group of fourteen human rights defenders who were arrested on 15 and 16 February 2007 for organising a demonstration which was due to take place on 17 February 2007 to commemorate the first anniversary of a demonstration in the city of Benghazi, in which eleven demonstrators were killed. Days before his arrest, Jamal Al Haji published an article which called for “freedom, democracy, a constitutional state, and law” in Libya.

On June 6, 2008, Front line expressed its concern following the sentencing of eleven human rights defenders who were convicted by the Libyan State Security Court of “planning to overthrow the Government and meeting with a foreign official”. Faraj Humaid was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment and Jamal Al Haji was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment. For further information on this case please see the Original Front Line Appeal