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Qaddafi Son Appears on Screen at His Trial Qaddafi Son Appears on Screen at His Trial
(about 11 hours later)
TRIPOLI, Libya — Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, facing accusations that he aided his father, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, in the brutal suppression of Libya’s uprising three years ago, was not allowed to appear in court in person on Sunday to answer the charges.TRIPOLI, Libya — Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, facing accusations that he aided his father, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, in the brutal suppression of Libya’s uprising three years ago, was not allowed to appear in court in person on Sunday to answer the charges.
A militia in the Libyan mountain town of Zintan has detained Mr. Qaddafi for 17 months, refusing to surrender him to the government. So instead, Mr. Qaddafi’s face — looking sleepy at times, and supremely confident at others — was beamed to the courtroom from a secret location, through a video link. Eight other defendants also took part in the hearing by means of a video link. A militia in the Libyan mountain town of Zintan has detained Mr. Qaddafi for almost two and a half years, refusing to surrender him to the government. So instead, Mr. Qaddafi’s face — looking sleepy at times, and supremely confident at others — was beamed to the courtroom from a secret location, through a video link. Eight other defendants also took part in the hearing by means of a video link.
Their absence in court underscored the persistent criticisms of the trial by human rights groups, who say the process so far has been marred by the kind of irregularities that have crippled Libya’s judiciary, and dimmed the possibility of a fair process.Their absence in court underscored the persistent criticisms of the trial by human rights groups, who say the process so far has been marred by the kind of irregularities that have crippled Libya’s judiciary, and dimmed the possibility of a fair process.
On Sunday, another high-profile defendant in the case — Abdullah al-Senussi, Colonel Qaddafi’s feared former intelligence chief — said in court that he was meeting his lawyer for the first time. But the lawyer, Ali al-Dhaba Ali, said he was withdrawing from the case, citing health reasons, which left Mr. Senussi, for the moment, without legal representation.On Sunday, another high-profile defendant in the case — Abdullah al-Senussi, Colonel Qaddafi’s feared former intelligence chief — said in court that he was meeting his lawyer for the first time. But the lawyer, Ali al-Dhaba Ali, said he was withdrawing from the case, citing health reasons, which left Mr. Senussi, for the moment, without legal representation.
The court session, the second in the trial of more than 30 former Qaddafi government officials, is being closely watched as a test for the weak central government, which remains in most ways subservient to militias and other regional power brokers.The court session, the second in the trial of more than 30 former Qaddafi government officials, is being closely watched as a test for the weak central government, which remains in most ways subservient to militias and other regional power brokers.
The judiciary is just one of the institutions that has suffered from the absence of a strong central authority.The judiciary is just one of the institutions that has suffered from the absence of a strong central authority.
In the current case, at least one defendant has complained of being abused while in detention and others have been denied access to lawyers before the trial. The lawyers have complained of having only fleeting access to the evidence against their clients, including confessions and transcripts of interrogations.In the current case, at least one defendant has complained of being abused while in detention and others have been denied access to lawyers before the trial. The lawyers have complained of having only fleeting access to the evidence against their clients, including confessions and transcripts of interrogations.
Some of those complaints came up during the court session on Sunday, though it remained unclear how much authority the judges had to remedy them. Eight other defendants are being detained in the western port city of Misurata, whose leaders have also been reluctant to cede any authority to officials in the capital, Tripoli.Some of those complaints came up during the court session on Sunday, though it remained unclear how much authority the judges had to remedy them. Eight other defendants are being detained in the western port city of Misurata, whose leaders have also been reluctant to cede any authority to officials in the capital, Tripoli.
The judges did rule that lawyers could copy some of the evidence against the defendants, though it was unclear whether they were referring to all of the thousands of pages of documents submitted by prosecutors. Journalists were allowed to watch the trial from a room adjoining the courtroom in Tripoli’s Al-Hadba Correctional Facility.The judges did rule that lawyers could copy some of the evidence against the defendants, though it was unclear whether they were referring to all of the thousands of pages of documents submitted by prosecutors. Journalists were allowed to watch the trial from a room adjoining the courtroom in Tripoli’s Al-Hadba Correctional Facility.
The defendants face a broad array of charges related to the uprising, which ended when rebel soldiers captured and executed Colonel Qaddafi in October 2011, as he was fleeing from the town of Surt. Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi was captured a month later by militia fighters from Zintan.The defendants face a broad array of charges related to the uprising, which ended when rebel soldiers captured and executed Colonel Qaddafi in October 2011, as he was fleeing from the town of Surt. Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi was captured a month later by militia fighters from Zintan.
Asked in court about whether he had a lawyer, Mr. Qaddafi replied, “I have God.”Asked in court about whether he had a lawyer, Mr. Qaddafi replied, “I have God.”
Mr. Senussi, faced with the withdrawal of his lawyer, said he would like to appoint a non-Libyan to represent him, suggesting that he could not find anyone in the country to take the case. But even that would be difficult, said Hanan Salah, a Libya researcher for Human Rights Watch. Held in solitary confinement with little access to the outside world, Mr. Senussi and other defendants would have trouble contacting lawyers.Mr. Senussi, faced with the withdrawal of his lawyer, said he would like to appoint a non-Libyan to represent him, suggesting that he could not find anyone in the country to take the case. But even that would be difficult, said Hanan Salah, a Libya researcher for Human Rights Watch. Held in solitary confinement with little access to the outside world, Mr. Senussi and other defendants would have trouble contacting lawyers.
And foreign lawyers need to be accompanied by a Libyan lawyer in court, as well as being accredited by the Libyan Bar Association.And foreign lawyers need to be accompanied by a Libyan lawyer in court, as well as being accredited by the Libyan Bar Association.
“I am not facing justice,” Mr. Senussi told the judge. “I am facing something else.”“I am not facing justice,” Mr. Senussi told the judge. “I am facing something else.”