Before EU Immigration Commissioner Brunner and EU ministers discussed immigration cooperation on July 8, Eve Geddie, director of the Office of the European Organization of Amnesty International, said:
“The EU’s moral cooperation with bankrupt immigration in Libyan authorities is quite a complicit in the violation of horrible human rights. The attempt to stop at any cost demonstrates a complete disregard for the lives and dignity of immigrants and refugees.
“Amnesty International has long documented the hell conditions facing immigrants and refugees in Libya. Rather than addressing the disastrous human costs of its immigration transactions in Libya and beyond, the EU and its member states are doubling down – tempting more and more people into a cycle of abuse.
“This visit to Libya has the potential to be similar to the deal with Tunisia.
“The EU and its member states must urgently reassess their support for the Libyan authorities and militias, suspend any actions that will help lure refugees and migrants in the country and avoid further accomplices in the violation of serious human rights violations.”
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On Tuesday, July 8, European Immigration Commission Magnus Brunner will meet with Italian, Greek and Malta ministers to meet with officials from two rival governments in the East and western Libya.
Amnesty International has long documented how EU aid can facilitate interception and forced return to detention centres in Libya.
Refugees and migrants in Libya are subject to system and widespread violations by irresponsible armed groups and militias, including prolonged arbitrary detention; enforced disappearances; torture and rape; illegal killing; blackmail and forced labour – According to a UN investigation, conditions are likely to constitute crimes against humanity. Libya is not a safe place to disembark.
The visit was driven by committee chairman von der Leyen to reduce departures from eastern Libya to the EU (particularly to Greece). This also follows severe crackdowns on international humanitarian organizations that assist refugees and migrants, which have made their situation even more unstable after many organizations were forced to suspend operations. In eastern Libya, affiliated armed groups such as the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) and Tariq Ben Zeyad continue to be responsible for the “Terror Directory”, including forced mass deportations of refugees and immigration to Chad, Egypt, Egypt, Niger and Sudan, without due process and without allowing them to declare themselves a chance to call themselves funds.
