Friday, April 01, 2011
LONDON: The Libyan authorities must end their campaign to discredit Iman al-Obeidi, Amnesty International said Thursday, after the government said she was being sued by the security officials who she says raped her. “It is simply outrageous that Iman al-Obeidi is now being targeted by the very officials whom she has accused, with the apparent approval of the Libyan authorities,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa region.
“This looks to be nothing but an attempt at face-saving by the government. Instead of carrying out this smear campaign, they should release her and independently investigate her allegations,” Smart said.
Law graduate Obeidi was dragged out of a Tripoli hotel on March 26 by security forces and detained, after announcing to journalists that she had been raped by soldiers. “Obeidi has effectively disappeared. We fear that she is being detained and put under pressure to withdraw her allegations,” Smart said.
“Obeidi’s case is alarming also because of the signal it sends to other women who may be subject to rape or other sexual violence, and who may now fear to come forward.” The organization is urging action from its members to demand Obeidi’s release. – The Daily Star
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